Obituary of Grant Ogilvie

Robert Grant Ogilvie August 25,1915 to February 3, 2009 Grant was born on the family farm in the Pense District, the second of three children to Thomas and Mary Ogilvie. He volunteered and was called up for service with the RCAF in February, 1941, and following his training, commissioned as pilot officer. During his service until 1946, he flew around the world including the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, India, Bermuda, Ceylon, Eritrea, Arabia and Egypt. He was navigator/wireless operator on a variety of aircraft including flying boats and torpedo bombers. He survived a forced landing in the North Atlantic during a violent storm. He flew with the RAF Trans-Atlantic Ferry Command, the 42 Sqdn in India and Assam and the 217 Sqdn in Ceylon until returning to Canada in 1944. Besides flying duties, Grant was armament and gunnery officer and on numerous occasions took over the adjutants duties. On returning to Canada he was posted to No. 1 CNS at Rivers, Manitoba where he met his future wife RCAF Nursing Sister Patricia Whatley. He returned overseas to ferry mail, troops and equipment, crossing the Atlantic sixteen times. He received the 1939 - 1945 Star, the Africa Star and Rosette, the Burma Star, the Germany- France Star, the Defence Medal, the CVSM and clasp and the War Medal. He later received the Dutch Thank You Canada medal in recognition of the liberation of Holland. In 1946, Grant and Pat purchased land in the Pense District where they farmed and raised their family. In 1973 they acquired a site at Purdy Lake in Northern Saskatchewan. Over the next couple of years, they built a log cabin called Airlie Lodge where they spent many vacations with friends and family. Grant participated in numerous Pense community events and volunteered endless hours to the Legion, Masons, Boy Scouts, the Hunter Safety Course. In 2005 he received the Centennial Medal. Pat passed away in 1990. In 1994 Grant married Ailene Graham and over the next 15 years Ailene and Grant enjoyed travel and each others families. Grant was predeceased by his first wife, Pat and his sister Marjorie Hind (2002). He is survived by his wife Ailene; a son, Don (Pat Cassell), Pense; a daughter, Barbara (Willie Grieve), Edmonton; his brother, Fraser Ogilvie (Kay), Pense. He is also survived by Grandchildren Traci Tian (Darren Boyer), Regina; Kirk Cassell (Julie), Strasbourg; Kim Cassell (Chad Leippi), Regina; Rob and Sarah Grieve, Edmonton as well as great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is fondly remembered by Ailenes children Clyde Graham (Glennie), (Moya, Annie), Ottawa, Janice (Rod Tuchscherer), (Ashley, Hailey), Emerald Park, SK and their families. A Service of Remembrance will be held on Friday, March 13, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina. Grants ashes will rest at Ogilvie Lake in Northern Saskatchewan. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of choice. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com LOGO