Arnold Victor Godfrey Springate

Peacefully, in his 104^th year, Arnold Springate passed away at the Perley and Rideau Veterans Health Centre in Ottawa, Ontario.  Arnold was the cherished husband of Elsie McCarthy for 72 years (d. 2011) and the loving and much-loved father and father-in-law of his eight children: David (Diana), Paddy Smith (Stuart d. 2020), Sally Kay (Pieter Brown), Ian d. 2010 (Stacey Irvine), Russ (Beverley Spence), Wendy, Michael (Carolyn Combs), and Del (Ron Phendler).

The oldest child of Walter and Eleanor Springate, he was the brother of Joy Farrance and Ruth Ditchburn, and of the late Gordon Springate and the late George Springate.

Caring for and providing for his large family were always the main goals of Arnold’s life.  Nothing made him happier than when he was with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their families. His love and admiration were returned in kind.  In addition to his children, he leaves his 24 grandchildren – Andrew, Alan and Kevin Springate; Tanya and Craig Smith; Nashma, Jasmin, Adriane and Jonathan Kay; Megan, Fiona, Laura, Sarah and Erica Springate; Caitlin and Shannon Springate; Julia and Daniel Lefebvre; Tessa and Mairi Springate, and Cole and Madeleine Springate-Combs; Anna and D’Arcy Springate-Floch, and Daniel Springate-Phendler – and 25 great-grandchildren: Alexandra, Kaitlyn and Sienna; Hope, Holly and Grant; Dylan; Michaele and Isaac; Kyle, Dylan and Alexandra; Nathan and Jaidyn ; Daniel; Bennett; Clara, Brielle and Timothy; Cora; Elsie; Luca and Gabriel; June; and Felix. He will also be remembered by his step-grandsons Rowan and Eric Phendler and by his many nieces and nephews throughout North America and Britain.  At his 100^th birthday party three years ago, more than 100 family members were with him to celebrate.

Arnold led a full and interesting life.  His parents, both from England, had emigrated to Canada to homestead in northern Ontario but soon settled in Montreal.  He was an excellent student but, at the age of fourteen, was taken out of school to accompany his father and younger brother to England.  Unable to afford to take both children home, his parents left him in England with the promise of a later passage.  He found employment as a shipper at a clothing manufacturer (Chauvent et Fils) where he met Elsie. They married in 1939. 

At the outbreak of World War II, Arnold approached Canada House and offered to sign up with the Canadian forces.  He was told that Canada was not accepting recruits at that point because the war would likely be over in a few weeks, but that the British were recruiting.  Arnold enlisted with the British forces, serving with both the South Wales Borderers and REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) in England, North Africa and Italy.

During Arnold’s years in England, he and Elsie had their first four children.  At the end of the war, Arnold returned to Canada, and Elsie and the children joined him the following year. In Canada, the couple welcomed four more children and, over the years, established homes in Montreal, Quebec City, Calgary, Ottawa, Thornhill, and Ajax – where Arnold loved to watch Lake Ontario from his home across the street and to spend countless hours walking along the shoreline with his faithful dog, Buddy. During the course of his working life, Arnold excelled in sales and management.  He worked diligently, rising to become both a branch manager and the top salesperson in North America for Addressograph Multigraph. He was a volunteer with the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade and the Ajax Waterfront Park Project.

Arnold always emphasized the importance of education and encouraged all his children to become self-sufficient and to pursue learning in all its forms.  He read widely and learned broadly, always thirsting for more information and greater knowledge. He particularly enjoyed campfires, singing, speaking in public (Toastmasters Club, lay minister and elder at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and St. Timothy’s Presbyterian Church), and never lost his sense of adventure - even making a major trip at the age of 94 because he had “always wanted to see New Zealand”.  Until the very last weeks of his life, Arnold remained a keen and almost unbeatable player of chess and Scrabble, and retained his sense of humour throughout. 

Following his death, Arnold was accorded the honour of a “marching out” ceremony at Perley Rideau. His friend and fellow resident, Howard Dickson, gave the final salute.

Happy in life and with life, Arnold exuded resilience, creativity, and a joyful positivity. He made friends easily, loved his family completely and, in so many ways, became a role model for those who loved and admired him.  To celebrate Arnold’s life is to celebrate both a remarkable person and a life well-lived.

The family extends special thanks to the Perley staff for their respectful and gentle attention to Arnold, and heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Cuong Ngo-Minh for his superb medical care.

A memorial service will be held for family and friends when conditions permit.  On-line condolences may be directed to beechwoodottawa.ca