GRUER, Colonel Barbara Jean (nee Voysey) - Colonel Barbara Jean Gruer, nee Voysey, was born in Montreal to William and Jean Voysey on March 4, 1932.
She was attracted to the Salvation Army through the Girl Guide Movement and became an active member of the Park Extension Corps. Barbara entered the Salvation Army Training College (Seminary) at 84 Davisville Avenue, Toronto, as a Cadet in the Shepherds Session and was Commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1954.
She began her service in several Corps appointments followed by a term on the Evangelistic Field Unit and in Divisional work. She was then appointed to the staff of the Training College for six years and to the St. John's College for Officer Training where, for the next four years she was the Women's Chief Side Officer and Bible Teacher.
After a brief period of service in the Southern California Divisional Headquarters, Barbara returned to Canada where for the next seventeen years until her marriage to Lieut. Colonel David H. Gruer on January 5th, 1991, she was Private Secretary to the Territorial Commander of the Canada and Bermuda Territory.
After the marriage, the Gruers were appointed as Territorial Leaders of the Brazil Territory, David as Territorial Commander and Barbara as President of Women's Organizations with the rank of Colonel from April 1st.
The Gruers retired on June 1, 1999 having served as Officers for 45 and 44 years. For the next seventeen and a half years the Gruers lived in a condo in Mississauga East and attended the Etobicoke Temple Corps taking part in the ministry and outreach of that Corps. During those years they also paid frequent visits to the U.S.A. to visit family and friends.
Eventually, the upkeep of their home became too much and they decided to move to a nice suite in the Salvation Army's Meighen Retirement residence on February 9, 2018. Barbara's health soon began declining and just a year later she was rushed to hospital where late the next evening she had surgery, followed by five months of recovery before transfer, first to Toronto Grace Hospital and finally to Cedarvale Long Term Care Home, where she remained until she succumbed to Covid-19 virus on Monday, January 11th, 2021, only six days after David and Barbara's 30th wedding anniversary.
She is lovingly remembered by her sister-in-law Irene, widow of her only sibling Don, nephew James, Judge of the High Court of Santa Maria, California and his wife Sharon, Florence Gruer and Majid, Majors Pauline and Shane Gruer-Caulfield, Hilmar Gruer and his wife Ania, and her precious granddaughters Mhairie and Elizabeth. Most of all, she will never be forgotten by her.
Arrangements entrusted with Ward funeral homes. Respecting the current situation and pandemic restrictions, the funeral service will be private.
The January 16th, 10:00 a.m. funeral service from The Salvation Army Yorkminister Citadel, 1 Lord Seaton Drive, Toronto will be officiated by Major Pauline Gruer – Caulfield, assisted by Major Beverly Ivany.
We thank you for your understanding and encourage you to provide your condolences to the family through the funeral home's memorial page.
The family has provided the opportunity to view the Zoom service from the comfort of your own home. Please visit the website of Ward Funeral Homes, click on Barbara's memorial page, and then click "Photos and Videos" for the link under webcast at time of service. The link will become available at the time of service, at 10:00 a.m.
On mobile devices and tablets the webcast link will be available by scrolling to the bottom of the page.
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