Ralph "Bud" McKay

17th April, 1920-13th January, 2014

Peacefully in his 94th year at St. Joseph’s Villa in Dundas. Bud is survived by his beloved wife Ann, his daughter Tessa Lucano, his brother-in-law Fred Sherratt , and his grandsons Andrew and Bryan. Pre-deceased by his Father, Arthur Ralph, his mother Ottille Vail, first wife Kay (Main), his sister Gloria Sharratt and his two sons, David (Brenda), and Ian. Bud was a gentleman to the core, and a gentle man. He was born, and always lived in the Hamilton area, apart from his years overseas during the war. He was educated at Hillfield-Strathallan College and Upper Canada College and was Chairman of the Board at Hillfield in the 70’s, and then served as an instructor at No:10 Elementary Flying Training School at the beginning of the war, later joining the R.C.A.F. Bud was posted overseas to Britain, and flew Spitfires over Germany, and in March 1945, flying out of Holland, he was shot down, and imprisoned for six months in Stalag Luft 1. After the war, he joined his father at McKay Insurance Brokers on James Street, inheriting the business after the death of his father in 1961. He was also an accomplished water colour artist, and pursued this hobby after his retirement. Bud maintained his great love of flying, buying a Republic Seabee amphibious aircraft after the war, and flying it until losing his flying licence in his 70’s, for medical reasons. In 1971 he flew with his great friend Archie van Hee in the London (England) to Victoria Air Race, in a twin engine Aztec. Bud was a member of the Hamilton Club, the Tamahaac Club, the Thistle Club, the Hamilton Squash Club, the Badminton and Racquets Club, the (International) Jesters Squash Club, in fact, twelve clubs in all, being a very keen sportsman. Along with Bill Bermingham and Denny Whitaker, Bud started the Hamilton Hunt Club, where he was very active in setting up fences, and negotiating the rights to hunt on farms in areas around the club. There is a double jump known as “McKay’s Corner”, where the horse is required to jump a fence, make a sharp turn and clear another. Bud’s horse, Danny, refused and Bud ended hung up on the fence by the gold buttons on the back of his riding Pinks jacket! Ann would like to give a very, very special thanks to all the staff at St. Joseph’s Villa in Dundas, where Bud has been so happy for the past nine years. Although there has been a great turn-over of staff, everyone on his Maple View wing, has been kindness personified and Bud could not have received greater care. Because of this, though much pressured by the CCAC, I refused to move him nearer to me, lest he be unhappy and I was unable to move him back. Cremation has taken place, and there will be a memorial reception for his friends and family at the Tamahaac Club, 180 Filman Road, Ancaster, on Saturday, January 18, 2014 from 12 -3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimers Society would be greatly appreciated.