PLEWMAN, Charles Raymond passed away peacefully on May 15, 2009 in his apartment at Alexander Mackie Lodge in Langford, BC.
Pre-deceased by his wife Alice (age 80) in 1995 after 50 years of marriage, and his partner, Gladys Veitch (age 96) in March, 2009, he leaves behind his daughter Carol Mallett and husband David; granddaughters, Tara Dyck and Robin Beatty, great grandchildren Emily and NIkolas; grandson by marriage, Loren Mallett (Mairi) and great grandchildren, Connor and Sarah; his only nephew Robert Plewman (and wife Pat and their son Blair) of Aurora, Ontario; and Gladys’ daughter, Margaret Corregan (Darcy).
Born in Kilcoo House near Athy, County Kildare, Ireland, in 1918, Charlie - the youngest of six children, arrived with his family in Toronto when only six years old.
During WWII, he served as an Observer (i.e. He trained as Navigator, Bomb-Aimer and Front Gunner) in the RCAF, was attached to 98th Squadron of the RAF and flew in Mitchells. His first crew was killed in action while he was on leave at home in Toronto in 1944. He then joined the Wing Commander’s crew and, much to the amusement of his High School French teacher, he ended the war flying with a French-speaking Belgian crew.
On his return to Canada, he took great pride in operating his own business, Plewman Roofing Company, doing specialized roofing and sheet metal jobs in Toronto 1945 to 1978 when he retired. In the last 10 years before his retirement, his wife Alice, worked with him running the office.
During weekends and holidays from 1954 until 1980, Charlie and Alice enjoyed the cottage country of T-Lake in Matchedash County near Georgian Bay, so much so that they spent their first year of retirement there, where Charlie formed the volunteer Fire Department. They were known on the local CB as Chickadee.
In Sooke, B.C., Charlie and Alice shared a wonderful retirement from 1980 until 1995 when Alice suddenly passed away. Charlie continued to live with Carol and David in their home as they turned it into a B&B - the Snuggery by the Sea. Charlie enjoyed entertaining the guests at the breakfast table each morning.
In 2005, Charlie moved in with Gladys. Then, as the demands of their ages increased, they moved to Langford where they made their home at Alexander Mackie Lodge.
The family will be hosting a Celebration of Charlie’s life on Saturday, May 30, 2009, 2 pm at the Sooke Seniors’ Drop-In Centre @ 6689 Sooke Road. All his friends and relatives are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, Charlie asked that donations be given to the Sooke Elderly Citizens’ Housing Society (6764 Ayre Road, Sooke, BC, V9Z1K1)- the non-profit society on which he was a Board member from the 1980’s until 2005. SECHS owns Ayre Manor Lodge in Sooke.