For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

GUNNING, Sir Charles Theodore - It is with a great sense of loss that we announce the death of Charles Gunning at the age of 84, an Officer and a Gentleman. Challenged by Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body and Primary Progressive Aphasia for more than 10 years, he was peacefully released from this cruel disease on June 1, 2020.

He was predeceased by his mother, father, and two sisters, Marion and Elaine (Arnold Jones). He leaves, with many loving memories, his wife and partner, Linda, of 36 years, his daughter Caroline (Michael Roberts) and stepchildren, Fiona (Mark Schrader), William (Darla), Kate (Jim Crawford), David Martin (Veronica), a sister, Sautie, and seven brothers, John, Joseph, David (Claudette), Henry (Rokhaya), Bernard (Libby), Peter (Pauline), Simon, and his mother-in-law Mary. He will be sadly missed by seven beautiful granddaughters, Melanie and Kate Gunning, Amanda Schrader, Ella and Sylvia Roberts, and Lily and Ava Martin. Charles also cherished his many nieces and nephews and took delight in hearing about their many escapades.

Sir Charles was born in London, England, eventually inheriting the title of 9th Baronet of Eltham. He immigrated to Peace River, Alberta with his family in 1948 and entered Royal Roads Military College as a cadet in 1952, greatly influenced by his maternal grandfather, Admiral Hallett. He went on from there to serve for 28 years as an engineering officer in various Royal Canadian Navy submarines and in particular on the HMCS Ojibwa. Lieutenant Commander Gunning continued to provide submarine engineering expertise to the Canadian Navy as a consultant for another 30 years. His deep commitment to the principles of Commonwealth, and his desire to promote collaboration, cooperation and consensus, motivated the sharing of these beliefs through the leadership and mentoring of over 3,000 high school students who engaged in the yearly National Student Commonwealth Forum. His 30 years of organizing the Commonwealth Day Interfaith Service was yet another example of building bridges across various faith communities, emphasizing our common search for the good and appreciating the joys of diversity.

Sports were always a part of Charles' life - skiing, cycling, squash, tennis and soccer, but above all rugby - until knee damage and concussion suggested settling for the less painful pursuits of coaching and refereeing. He loved teaching squash and volunteering with the blind, but many friends will remember him most for his addiction to, and provision of, good smoked salmon prepared in the Danish tradition.

Memorial donations can be made to the Aphasia Centre of Ottawa, 2081 Merivale Road, Suite 300, Ottawa, Ontario K2G 1G9, helping families and clients understand and cope with the challenges of language and communication loss often associated with various forms of Dementia.

Our sincere thanks to the Transition Ward staff at the General Campus of the Ottawa Hospital (4 West) especially Nurses Lindsay and Wubetu and Dr. Paul Beamish and Dr. Sofia Ribchinsky for their honesty, kindness and gentle caring.

A Celebration of Charles' Life will be held at a later date in Beechwood Cemetery (Ottawa Citizen 06 Jun 2020)