Dr. Ralph John Kimmerly

On January 8th 2014 at Uxbridge Cottage Hospital in his 93rd year supported by his surviving children, Ruth Lynch ( Brian), Barbara Vessey (Chuck), David Kimmerly (Carol), Megan Heap (Bill Palmer), Alan Kimmerly (Karen), and their mother Mrs. Effie Kimmerly. Pre deceased by his daughter Sheila Denys (Alec). He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Dr. Kimmerly was also predeceased by his parents, Alfred E. W. Kimmerly and C. Madeline Kimmerly (Draycott), brothers Earl Kimmerly, Victoria B.C., Gordon Kimmerly, San Diego California, Ken Kimmerly, Toronto and by his partners, Ms . June Thompson and Mrs. Ethel Kimmerly.

A WWII Veteran Dr. Kimmerly interrupted his Pre Med studies at McGill University, in Montreal and served his country overseas from 1939-1945. He was a proud D-Day Dodger during the Italian Campaign with the #1 Canadian Mobile Hygiene Laboratory, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp.

After the war Dr. Kimmerly returned to McGill University and graduated with his medical degree in 1950. In 1951 he moved his young family to Oshawa, Ontario and began his medical practice in family medicine and anesthesiology. During his practice he was able to make good use of the Italian language he had learned in Italy during the war.

Dr. Kimmerly was devoted to the practice of medicine and in addition to his family practice was Director of the Medical staff at Oshawa General Hospital in 1958, practiced Anesthesiology at the newly opened Dr J.O. Ruddy General Hospital, Whitby in 1969 and was a member of the medical staff of Port Perry Community Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Kimmerly’s 2nd devotion was St John Ambulance and during decades of service he progressed through the honours of Serving Brother, Officer, Commander and a Knight of the Order of St. John. He was named an Honorary Life Member of the Priory of Canada. In 1986 Dr. Kimmerly was one of the founding members of the Oshawa Chapter of the St John Ambulance Fellowship, the first to be formed in Canada.

Dr. Kimmerly was a community volunteer with the Oshawa Historical Society, Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre and the Ontario Regiment Museum. He was a proud Associate Member of the Officers’ Mess of the Ontario Regiment. A Regiment he knew as the Ontario Tanks during the Italian Campaign. As an avid history buff he took a great deal of pleasure showing youth groups through the Museum, providing audio memoirs of the war for the Memory Project and visiting elementary school classrooms in November each year as part of the remembrance program with the Dominion Institute Speakers Bureau.

Arrangements entrusted to OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME, 847 King Street West (905-721-1234). There will be a memorial reception in Dr. Kimmerly’s honour on Thursday January 16th at 1:00 pm at the Officers’ Mess, Ontario Regiment, Col. R.S. McLaughlin Armoury, 53 Simcoe St. N, Oshawa, Ontario.

Memorial donations may be made to St John Ambulance Oshawa, (Durham Region) Branch or the Ontario Regiment Museum.