Obituary for Graham Thistle
WILLIAM GRAHAM THISTLE died at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, after a brief illness. Graham was born to Ralph and Julia (Whelan) Thistle on September 30, 1930, in King’s Point, Newfoundland. The family moved to Burlington, Newfoundland, when Graham was five.
After starting his education in a one-room schoolhouse, Graham pursued undergraduate studies in electrical engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland and at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, winning Silver Governor-General’s Academic Medals at both institutions. While working and raising a family, Graham completed a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering at Laval University in 1965.
He was with the Defence Research Board in Valcartier, near Quebec City, until 1977, and then in Ottawa until his retirement in 1988. Initially working on the development of solid-state instrumentation for research in high-altitude physics, by the early 60s he was focusing on digital and hybrid analogue/digital computation. Though he preferred technical work, he also contributed to administration, notably serving as Acting Chief of Defence Research Establishment Ottawa.
While in Quebec City he met Kathryn Ann Leslie, and the two married in 1958, and had two sons, John and Owen. Graham was posted to The Hague, Netherlands, from 1966 to 1968, and from 1986 to 1988 to London, England, where he maintained a liaison with defence research establishments in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. During his London posting, Kathryn frequently hosted work-related functions at their residence near Marble Arch. After retirement, Kathryn and Graham returned to their home in Manotick, Ontario, moving to Calgary in 2020.
Graham had many seafaring ancestors, and the family cruised in his homebuilt 33-foot ketch on the St. Lawrence around Quebec City. He and Kathryn later sailed smaller craft in eastern and southern Ontario. They had summer cottages near Quebec City, and later on the Rideau Lakes and in the Kawarthas.
Graham is survived by Kathryn, his wife of 64 years; his sons, John Thistle (Carolyn Young) and Owen Thistle (Fiona Curthoys); granddaughters, Fiona Thistle, and Kymber, Shayla and Cailyn Thistle; his sisters-in-law, Joan Reinhardt and Louise Graham; and by many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister, Helen Hoskins; brothers-in-law, Melvin Hoskins, Jack Reinhardt, and Les Graham; and by daughter-in-law, Lora (Robertson) Thistle.
A private family Memorial Service has already been held. To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Graham, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
After starting his education in a one-room schoolhouse, Graham pursued undergraduate studies in electrical engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland and at the Technical University of Nova Scotia, winning Silver Governor-General’s Academic Medals at both institutions. While working and raising a family, Graham completed a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering at Laval University in 1965.
He was with the Defence Research Board in Valcartier, near Quebec City, until 1977, and then in Ottawa until his retirement in 1988. Initially working on the development of solid-state instrumentation for research in high-altitude physics, by the early 60s he was focusing on digital and hybrid analogue/digital computation. Though he preferred technical work, he also contributed to administration, notably serving as Acting Chief of Defence Research Establishment Ottawa.
While in Quebec City he met Kathryn Ann Leslie, and the two married in 1958, and had two sons, John and Owen. Graham was posted to The Hague, Netherlands, from 1966 to 1968, and from 1986 to 1988 to London, England, where he maintained a liaison with defence research establishments in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. During his London posting, Kathryn frequently hosted work-related functions at their residence near Marble Arch. After retirement, Kathryn and Graham returned to their home in Manotick, Ontario, moving to Calgary in 2020.
Graham had many seafaring ancestors, and the family cruised in his homebuilt 33-foot ketch on the St. Lawrence around Quebec City. He and Kathryn later sailed smaller craft in eastern and southern Ontario. They had summer cottages near Quebec City, and later on the Rideau Lakes and in the Kawarthas.
Graham is survived by Kathryn, his wife of 64 years; his sons, John Thistle (Carolyn Young) and Owen Thistle (Fiona Curthoys); granddaughters, Fiona Thistle, and Kymber, Shayla and Cailyn Thistle; his sisters-in-law, Joan Reinhardt and Louise Graham; and by many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister, Helen Hoskins; brothers-in-law, Melvin Hoskins, Jack Reinhardt, and Les Graham; and by daughter-in-law, Lora (Robertson) Thistle.
A private family Memorial Service has already been held. To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Graham, please visit www.choicememorial.com.