ESPIN, Ronald Fordham

In his 90th year, born November 20, 1930. Ron is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, June; son Tim (Caroline), granddaughter Takaya and grandson Dylan of Sydney, Australia and daughter Susan of North Vancouver; nieces Jennifer (Ken), Delta and Allyson (Mike) Sunshine Coast. Ron was predeceased by his brother Robert in 2009. Ron spent some early years in West Vancouver, attending Pauline Johnson primary school, moving to Langley in 1941, where he continued his education at Murrayville elementary School and Langley High School and in his teens was very active in local baseball circles with the Langley Tigers and Langley Athletics. Ron earned his wings at the Langley airport under the late Art Sellars and Ed Batchelor he also worked for a short time at the Standard Furniture Co. in Victoria. After moving to North Vancouver in 1953 he took an apprenticeship in the printing trade with the Vancouver Daily Province (when the craft was done by hand with molten metal) then located at Victory Square which later became Pacific Press where he was an active and staunch member of the International Typographical Union. Except for a short time at the Honolulu Star Bulletin and for the duration of the ill-fated Vancouver Times, all his working life was with Pacific Press. Setting in North Vancouver, Ron married his wife June and together they raised their family. Ron spent many enjoyable weeks in the North Country from the plateau of the Peace to the peaks of the East Kootenays, to the banks of the Parsnip River and hills of the Horsefly on yearly hunting and camping trips with his friends from the press. In North Vancouver Ron was active in the 15th Capilano Scouts, Mcsween soccer and little league baseball. During his long retirement Ron enjoyed many holidays with June, usually to the sun, sand and palm trees of many tropical locations. Ron’s greatest passion was golfing, spending many memorable outings and tournaments with his lifelong friends from the press. Ron was active with the Pacific Press retirement group the Wrong Fonts, organizing four-monthly luncheon meetings for the group he also was a member of the Lunch Bunch, a retirement group from the Province Editorial department. Ron was a member of the West Vancouver Senior Centre and an active member of the Ramblers hiking group. In latter years Ron lived an active life in North Vancouver with June. "Having two children I can be very proud of and having the girl that I married turn out to be my best friend is truly a dream come true. I count my blessings daily." No service by request, a donation to a charity of choice will be welcome.