DICKINSON, Robert ‘Bob’ Gordon Dickinson Obituary

DICKINSON, Robert ‘Bob’ Gordon – (April 7, 1954 – December 30, 2015) –

Bob died peacefully during the night on December 30, 2015, in Ottawa, Ontario from complications related to the cancer known as Waldenström Macroglobulinemia, which he battled for 9 years. Bob was 61 years old.

Born in Peterborough, Ontario on April 7, 1954 Bob was the second child of John “Jack” and Kathryn Dickinson.

As a child and teenager he was involved in many activities; he especially loved being a part of many Christian camps in the summers. He came to faith in Christ at an early age and was baptized at 16.

Bob attended Queen Mary and PCVS where he was vice president of the student council and a member of Miss Rommel’s drama group.

Bob was married on August 20, 1977 to his beloved Janet (nee Attwell) in London, Ontario. Together they had a family of four children and shared over 38 years of marriage.

Bob was a life-long learner. As a young man, after a year at UBC, he completed his BSc (Honours) in Applied Math at Western University where he won the gold medal at graduation. He received his MSc at Queens and did PhD work before beginning his career and family.

He served Canada with distinction for 30 years within the Department of National Defense before his retirement. (Much of his work was highly classified and took him to international locations; his children believed he was a spy.)

He returned to studies later in life to complete an MDiv at Tyndale Seminary and receive ordination into ministry within the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec through Bilberry Creek Baptist Church.

Throughout his life he was active in churches, serving his Lord wherever he lived. As his career took him from coast to coast he had experiences in churches in many places across the country (Victoria, BC; Dartmouth, NS; Quebec, PQ; Ottawa, ON).

In all of these places he and his wife led together in music, worship, drama, children’s groups, children’s choirs, musicals, Bible study and many other ways. He was called to be a deacon/elder, teacher and, on occasion, preacher in these churches.

He felt especially blessed to see his children raised in the faith and actively serving God in their own ways.

An avid learner and thinker, Bob explored the world and his interests through hobbies of reading, collecting and adding to long time family catalogues of stamps, and detailing his family tree with all its stories.

His serious and rational approach to life was expressed in routine and carefully considered actions while balanced by a sense of humour that manifested in silliness, goofiness, and a spirit of laughter.

He loved storytelling in many forms, whether through music and drama (notable roles include the title role of Mother Goose with an appearance as Wonder Woman) or recording readings of favourite books for his grandchildren, who knew him as Grampa.

Bob is survived by his parents, John “Jack” and Kathryn; siblings, Sharon Wyspianski, Ken and Kathy Dickinson, Margie and Mark Delamater; his loving wife Janet; children and grandchildren, Gordon and Becky Dickinson (Heather, Naomi, Cameron), Angela and David Fay (Elijah), Emily and Andrew Belli (Miriam, Josiah, Judah, Ezra), Colin and Josie Dickinson; many in-laws, nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the people of Bilberry Creek Baptist Church, Pastor Randy, Dr. Faught, the hematology wing at the Ottawa General and all friends and family for their support during this time.

Summarizing his faith in God as the centre of his life, Bob quoted the apostle Paul: “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Cor. 13:12b)

Bob will be warmly remembered for his bright mind, his gifted storytelling, his service to God and the Church, and the love of his family.

Visitation will be held at Bilberry Creek Baptist Church, Orleans, Ontario on Friday January 1st 2016, 2-4pm, 7-9pm, Saturday January 2nd from 9-9:45 am, with service beginning in the church at 10AM. Reception to follow.

Please contact Bilberry Creek Baptist Church to donate to the memorial fund or general fund.

OttawaObituaries.com

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