Obituary of Charles Lewis Ricketson

Ricketson, Charles Lewis

Age 93.  Born September 21, 1931 in Fredericton, NB. Lewis went to be with his Lord and Saviour on October 15, 2024 in Kentville, NS.  Son of J. Walter and L. Beryl (nee Hayden) Ricketson of Bridgetown, NS. He is predeceased by his wife Dorothy (nee Watson), his grandson Jeremy Dytynyshyn, and his brothers-in-law Robert Higgins, Geoffrey Watson, and Leslie Woodward.

Lewis is survived by sister Marcia Higgins, Middleton, NS, his brother John Ricketson (Diane) Sudbury, ON, and his sister Audrey Wade (John) Halifax, NS; his children Charles Ricketson (Janice) Victoria, BC, Carolyn Hubble (David) Lawrencetown, NS, and Nancy Dytynyshyn (David) Moncton, NB; brother-in-law Michael Watson (Joan), Barbados, sister-in-law Patricia Woodward, Kelowna, BC. Grampy was much loved by 12 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren: Andrea (nee Ricketson) and Adam Greene (Madeleine), Ian and Melissa Ricketson (Carter), Jeffrey and Leah Ricketson (Isaac, Ethan), Jonathan and Heather Hubble (Violet, Micah, Ezekiel), Paul and Fiona Hubble (Boaz, Matai, Alden), Deborah (nee Hubble) and David Smith (Quinlan, Elythea), Michael Dytynyshyn (Kalena), Laura (nee Dytynyshyn) and Steve Cyr (Liam, Anna, Juliette), Julie (nee Dytynyshyn) and Ben Delcid (Brielle, Benjamin, Jacob), Suzanne Dytynyshyn, Jennifer (nee Dytynyshyn) and Ben Garbus (Eloise, Charlie, Margot). He is also fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and friends whose lives he touched and blessed.

Lewis completed an Honours BSc Agr in 1953 through Nova Scotia Agricultural College and Macdonald College (McGill University). He served as class president at both NSAC and Mac, maintaining communication and organizing reunions with his classmates over many years. At Macdonald College he met Dorothy and they married in Carleton Corner, NS on June 27, 1953. With her support he completed an MS at Cornell University, Ithica, NY in 1955 and a PhD at Ohio State University, Columbus, OH in 1965. Lewis was a well-respected research scientist at the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario from 1958-1980. Strawberry breeding was his specialty and one of his cultivars (Veestar) became widely grown commercially. He worked at the Agriculture Canada research station in Kentville, NS from 1953-1956 and from 1980 to his retirement in 1992. An avid gardener, Lew’s happy place was on the family farm in Carleton Corner, NS where he lived much of his life and where he gardened until very recently.  He passed on that love of the farm to his children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren.

Above all Lewis loved God and his family. He lovingly cared for Dorothy in her later years and they celebrated 68 years of marriage prior to Dorothy’s death in 2022. He served faithfully in his local church everywhere he lived. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, curling, and treating his family to ice cream!

The family appreciates the gracious care Lewis received at Graceview Residence and Valley Regional Hospital. Visitation will be October 28 from 6-8 pm at Kaulbach Family Funeral Home, Bridgetown, NS. The funeral will be held at 2 pm on October 29 at Kaulbach’s. Reception and Interment to follow.  Donations in his memory may be made to World Vision Canada, Bridgetown Baptist Church, or a charity of your choice. The service will be livestreamed on this website.