Obituary of Robert Winton Richey

Richey, Robert (Bob) Winton

March 23, 1924 - July 10, 2024

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Robert ‘Bob’ Richey, of Fall River, at the well-lived age of 100. Formerly of Spryfield and Halifax’s North End, Bob was a resident of Camp Hill Veteran’s Memorial Building for the past 5 years and we are forever grateful for the incredible care and compassion provided by the VMB staff of 5 West.

Born in Halifax, Bob was the youngest son of Christine Mathilda (MacPherson) Richey and Vivian Praul Richey. He is predeceased by his wife, Shirley; eldest son, David; brothers, James, Earl, C. Douglas; sisters, Maude, Louise (Irene) Crockett and Ethel Crockett. He is survived by children, Brian (Denise), Karen, Carol (Gordon), James (Heather), Janet; daughter-in-law, Lorraine, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

In 1952 he married the love of his life, Shirley Katherine MacLeod of Port Dufferin, and they were blessed (his word!) with six children. Shirley and Bob had a wonderful life together, buying their first home in Thornhill Park, Spryfield, in 1955.  As the family grew, so did the horizon, and, in their camper, they traveled across Canada and the United States on numerous occasions. Retirement brought the fulfillment of a long-time dream, building their home in Fall River on property purchased in 1949 as a post-war get-away.

A veteran with the Canadian Armed Forces West Nova Scotia Regiment, Bob served overseas during World War ll. Wounded in Italy, he spent time recovering in England where he made lifelong friends. After the war, while working in the blacksmith shop at the Halifax Shipyards, he attended night school courses. Further correspondence courses taken through Chambers College (U.K.) ultimately resulted in his employment in the Drafting/Design Office at H.M.C. Dockyard, where he worked until his retirement in 1986 as a Design Officer.

In 2022, Bob was awarded The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for significant contribution to his community. For many years, he volunteered his time to Scouts Canada and the Emmanuel Anglican Church Cemetery Committee. He had a love for horseshoe pitching and was a long-time competitive player, further developing this passion by being a founding member of the Halifax Horseshoe Club and, eventually, President of the Nova Scotia Horseshoe Players Association. He was instrumental in helping to develop the horseshoe courts and playground at the Graves-Oakley Memorial Park in Spryfield. He was honoured in 1998, for his many contributions to the sport, by being Nova Scotia’s first inductee into the Horseshoe Canada Hall of Fame.

Bob enjoyed a wonderful life and is remembered as a loving father and kind gentleman who will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His final wish to support medical research was fulfilled with the donation of his body to the Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine.

A funeral service will be held at Emmanuel Anglican Church, 322 Herring Cove Rd., Spryfield on Thursday, July 25^th at 11:00. Reception to follow in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, a donation to Emmanuel Church or a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.

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