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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
JAMES, Donald Graham (Don) - We are deeply saddened to announce that Donald "Don" Graham James, a resident of Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building, QEII passed away on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Don, born in Pleasant Harbour, was a son of the late William and Florence (Beaver) James. Dad enlisted in the Merchant Navy at 16 and then the Royal Canadian Navy at 17 in order to serve his country during the Second World War and beyond. He left the Navy in 1947 and moved to Ontario to find work. Love for Rae brought him back to Dartmouth and in 1950, he enlisted in the RCAF and trained as a machinist and metal technician. Postings involved Summerside, Portage la Prairie, Camp Borden, Winnipeg and Chatham, N.B. from where he retired in 1976 as a Master Warrant Officer. After retirement from the military, and in moving back home to Dartmouth, Dad found work first as a machinist and then as an inventory control clerk at IMP until the mandatory retirement age of 65. To help us along the way in both our education and sports, Dad worked extra jobs in appliance repair and a movie projectionist at the CFB Winnipeg Base Theatre. He also used his many talents to build a boat (DRGADD) and a tent trailer that was reported to have so many rivets holding it together that the rivets might still be standing in a field somewhere. The boat and the trailer were used often as we camped every weekend and travelled throughout Canada on vacations. Dad was a true and loyal Canadian with an inquisitive mind and a quick wit. In addition to his parents, Dad was predeceased by Rae, his wife of 65 years and his brother, Elliott. He is survived by his children, Graham, Anne, David "Rusty" (Gina), Dennis (Angela) and daughter-in-law, Heather Sutherland. He is also survived by grandchildren, Tyler, Lindsay, Darren, Michele, Rachel and step grandchildren, Riley, Monica and Ian and many nieces and nephews. We would like to thank the staff at Camp Hill for their incredible support and attention to Dad over these past five years. You made a huge difference in his life and ours. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be no visitation and a family funeral will be by invitation only. The funeral is scheduled for Friday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in Saint Andrew Church in Eastern Passage. For those who may wish to honour Don's memory, donations may be made to the Canadian Naval Trust, HMCS SACKVILLE or QEII Foundation - Veterans Trust Fund. (Halifax Chronicle-Herald 11 Feb 2021)
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