Stirling Ross

Stirling MacNeill Ross died peacefully on March 13, 2023 in Victoria, BC, he was 93 years old. Stirling was born on December 4, 1929 in Ottawa, and was the youngest son of Col. George William (Bill) and Constance (Connie) Ross.

Stirling was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Margaret, in 2012. He is survived by his daughter Catherine (Jeff) Sheldrake, and grandchildren, Nicholas and Caroline. He will be missed by many other relatives and friends.

After a wartime childhood, growing up in Ottawa and summertimes at the family cottage at "the Cedars” in Aylmer Quebec, Stirling was keen to serve his country. In 1948, he left home to attend Royal Roads Military College. The west coast made an impression on the young man and he knew then that one day he would put down roots on Vancouver Island.

Stirling toured the world as an engineering officer in the Royal Canadian Navy. He served in the Mediterranean, on Canada’s aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent, in Ottawa at National Defence Headquarters, and as a member of Canada’s defence liaison staff in Washington D.C. In January 1962, on a ski hill in Nova Scotia’s Wentworth Valley, he met the love of his life, Margaret. By December of that same year they were married in Margaret’s home town of Truro. Upon retiring from the navy in 1975, at the rank of Lt. Commander, Stirling continued his public service with the City of Victoria and later with the Department of National Defence.

Always an avid sailor, Stirling was a sailing member of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. He gave to his community through many charitable causes, and as an organizer of fund raising with the ALS Society of BC. In his later years, Stirling and Margaret travelled to many far-off destinations, as well as focusing love and attention on their family.

“Fair winds and following seas”

A Celebration of Life will be held at First Memorial Funeral Services, 4725 Falaise Drive, Victoria, on Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 2:00 pm.

The family wish to thank the staff of the Veteran’s Memorial Lodge who cared for Stirling over the last three years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Society of BC ( alzheimer.ca/bc ).