Obituary of Ralph Gilbert Stopps

It is with sadness that the family of Ralph Gilbert Stopps, age 80, of Westcock, N.B. announces his passing. Ralph passed away at Sackville Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 after a 5 year battle with colon cancer.

Born in Montreal on November 6, 1943 he was the son of Ralph Gilbert Stopps, Senior and Rose Dorothy (Weatherbee) Stopps.

After attending Riverview Elementary School in Verdun Quebec, Ralph graduated from Verdun High School in 1960. He attended McGill University in Montreal for one year before transferring to Mount Allison University.  In the fall of 1961, he became part of the class of 1964, celebrating their 60^th anniversary this year.  

Ralph first graduated from the McClelan School of Engineering at Mount Allison. Rather than finishing his engineering degree at Dalhousie University, Ralph completed his Bachelor of Science Degree and Bachelor of Education Degree at Mount Allison. He received his New Brunswick Teacher’s License in 1967.

Ralph loved teaching and loved his students. He taught science, physics and chemistry first at Sackville Composite High School and then at Tantramar Regional High School.

Ralph had a passion for country life having spent many summers at Linacy, N.S. near New Glasgow where he would visit at the farm of his uncle, Gordon Weatherbee and his retired grandparents. This encouraged him to buy land and build a home for his family in Westcock, N.B. where he lived for 53 years.

Ralph’s interests included birding and he participated in the Christmas Bird Count for over 20 years. As well, he volunteered with the Red Cross delivering meals in Sackville and served for many years on the Boy Scout Committee. His special passion was working with the Saint John Ambulance. After a terrible farm accident near his home, Ralph spent hundreds of hours training with the Sackville branch and served for over 15 years. Many weekends were spent at football games or transferring patients to Halifax and to Saint John with his partner, Blaine Hicks.  He was always disappointed that he never got to deliver a baby.

One of his special skills was photography. He supervised the Tantramar Yearbook Committee, took many of the team photos and developed all the photos in his darkroom.

Ralph met Phyllis Atkinson at the Mount Allison Library and they were married in 1967.  Ralph said it was his Centennial Project. Their children are, Ralph Gordon and Alyson Elizabeth. Ralph was proud that he, his wife, his children and his son-in-law, Andrew Richardson all graduated from Mount Allison University. Their grandchildren are, Hugh Ainsley, Harriet Elizabeth and Wilfred Gordon all of Whitehouse, Yukon.

Ralph is also survived by his sister, Rose Dorothy Smolarek and her daughter, Melanie Smolarek Crane and family of Buffalo. In addition, Ralph leaves sisters-in-law, Judith (Atkinson) Fierros and family of Sacremento and Georgina Atkinson of Sidney, B.C. as well as many treasured cousins.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Dr. Sheldon H. Rubin Oncology Clinic, the Sackville Extra-Mural nurses and the nurses and doctors of the Sackville Memorial Hospital.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Erin Campbell and staff of Campbell’s Funeral Home, 89 Bridge Street, Sackville N.B. (506) 364-8188. Friends and former students are invited to visiting hours at Campbell’s Funeral Home on Thursday, July 11, 2024 from 6-8 p.m.  A private burial will take place in the Westcock Cemetery. 

If so desired, donations in memory of Ralph may be made to the Lillian Albon Animal Shelter in Amherst, NS or to the charity of one’s choice.

On-line condolences and sharing of memories may be forwarded to the family through our website www.campbellsfuneralhome.com or by visiting the funeral home Facebook page.