Obituary
July 22, 1917 – October 24, 2012 Rick was born in Folkestone, England, the only child of John and Eliza Georgina Whiting. When he was eight years old, the family moved to Toronto. In the summer of 1935, while making deliveries for the Red Rose Tea Company, he met Marie Switzer, who was working in the company’s booth at the CNE. It was there, over a cup of tea, that they fell in love. They were married on September 14, 1940. Marie and Rick had three children, Connie, John and Marilyn, who married Charlie Batty, Jean McLeod and Jamie Henderson, respectively, and provided Marie and Rick with seven grandchildren: Cathy and Cheryl Batty, Kirsten and Blair Miller, and Johanna, Emma and James Henderson There are seven great grandchildren: Owen, Russell, and Colin Lo; Noah and Elise Miller; and Thomas and Claire Harris. Rick joined the Canadian army for WW2 and also served in Korea with the 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment. He then joined the Canadian Guards and remained a Guardsman during postings around Ontario. The family lived in Toronto, Petawawa, and Ottawa before settling in Kingston, where Rick had a second career with the Canadian Correctional Services. When Rick retired, in 1973, they moved to Balm Beach on Georgian Bay but avoided the Canadian winter by spending six months of the year in Florida, first in Pinellas Park (St. Petersburg) and later Englewood. They subsequently moved to Toronto and, after a few years at the Garden Court Apartments on Bayview Avenue, settled into the New Horizons Tower, at the corner of Bloor and Dufferin Streets, where they lived together until Marie’s death in 2006. Rick lived on there until his death. Rick took great pride in his family’s accomplishments and his role as a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. His family will miss him very much and remember his loving support and many kindnesses. Visitation will be held at The Cardinal Funeral Home, 92 Annette St. (just east of Keele) on Monday, October 29, 2012 from 5-8 p.m. A Chapel Service will follow on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 11 a..m. Interment at Prospect Cemetery. Online condolences received at www.cardinalfuneralhomes.comVisitation
Date
October 29, 2012
October 29, 2012
Location
Time
5-8 p.m.
5-8 p.m.
Service
Date
October 30, 2012
October 30, 2012
Location
Cardinal Funeral Home, 92 Annette Street, Toronto, M6P 1N6.
Cardinal Funeral Home, 92 Annette Street, Toronto, M6P 1N6.
Time
11 a.m.
11 a.m.
Burial / Entombment / Cremation
Date
Location
Prospect Cemetery,1450 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario
Prospect Cemetery,1450 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario
Time
November 01, 2012
Dear John and family,
Our thoughts have been with you today as you said farewell to John's dad. It is a sad time, but we are sure happier times have been discussed as you looked back over the years.
We are sorry we could not be in Toronto for the service. We will remember him as we commemorate all veterans on Remembrance Day.
October 29, 2012
My condolence to the family on your loss.
October 29, 2012
John, Connie and Marilyn: Our most sincere sympathies on the occasion of the loss of your father. John: very sorry that Marie and I could not get down to Toronto to see you and Jean for the services.
Dave, Marie and Lara Rooke
October 28, 2012
Dear Family Miller
Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the passing of JE Miller. His selfless gift to his country as a soldier sets him apart from many Canadians as a great man and a humanitarian. God will surely take this man into his hand.
David and Hannelore Holt
