REUBEN ELSWICK BURNETT

February 9, 2020

Reuben Elswick Burnett, formerly of Kincardine, died peacefully, with his two daughters by his side, at Rockwood Terrace in Durham, Feb. 9, 2020. He was 93. Survived by his daughters, Michele Burnett and Jennet (Warren) Cox. Also survived by his siblings, Neta Burnett, Verna Burnett, Rena Burnett and Clinton Burnett. Predeceased by his wife, Ursula Boehme; his brother, Erskine Rawlins; and sisters, Ercille Edey, Pearl Burnett, and Joan Burnett. Reuben was born Oct. 14, 1926, on the island of Barbados, the son of Harold Burnett and Anne Louise Rawlins. In his early years, he attended St. Christopher Boys School and later went to the Boys Foundation Secondary School in Barbados. He was athletic as a child, loving all sports. He greatly enjoyed soccer, but his favourite sport was cricket. Leaving Barbados, he went to work in the oil refineries in Curacao where he became an instrument panel operator. After coming to Canada, he went to the Agriculture College in Guelph with the hopes of owning a farm in this country. He then studied English, Geography and Physical Education at Wilfrid Laurier University where he met his wife, Ursula, in Kitchener-Waterloo. Reuben came to the Kincardine area to teach at Ripley District School. He also worked for Loomis at the Bruce Nuclear Power Development, and sold insurance for a brief period before opening R.B.’s School of Safe Driving in Kincardine. He took great pride in his business and enjoyed teaching. He relished the community he built through his work and his many endeavours. He was very active in many areas of community life. He enjoyed participating in the Lions Club and was a past Grand Master of the Kincardine Masonic Lodge. He was a spiritual person, and for many years, he was treasurer at the Anglican Church in Ripley and he became a lay minister. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private celebration of Reuben’s life will be held from the Kinlough Anglican Church, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, followed by a public graveside committal at the Ripley Cemetery at 2 p.m. Those wishing to attend the public committal, should contact the MacKenzie and McCreath Funeral Home, Ripley, at 519-395-2969, during regular business hours or visit the website at www.mackenzieandmccreath.com to sign up on-line. Interment, Ripley Cemetery. Donations to the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation or Kinlough Anglican Church, would be greatly appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Condolences on-line at www.mackenzieandmccreath.com