Richard Harry “Dick” Crosby of Vulcan passed away Monday May 19, 2003 at Vulcan Extendicare at the age of 68. Beloved husband of Pat of Vulcan; loving father of daughter Ann Michele (Shane) of Lethbridge; of son Lloyd ( Morgana) of Calgary; and proud grandfather of Alanna, Jayden, Riley, and Perrin. Dick was predeceased by his brother Howard, his brother-in-law Bill Esselmont, his father-in-law, and his parents.
Dick was born December 6, 1934 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Archie and Mildred Crosby. As a young child he was raised in Expanse, Sask. In his teens he was the saxophone player for the local “Rhythm-Aires” dance band which played for country dances all over southern Saskatchewan. In 1949 he won his first curling trophy. Dick graduated from Mossbank High School in 1952 at the top of his class and attended the University of Sask. graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1955. He financed his university education by belonging to the Canadian Army Officers Training Corps. Dick worked in the accounting field in Sask. and B.C. until he enrolled in the Faculty of Education at University of .B.C. and earned his teaching certificate in 1967. Dick met Pat Esselmont in Nanaimo through singing in the community choir and curling. On June 27, 1964, they were married in Maple Ridge, B.C. and honeymooned in Hawaii. Dick began teaching at Poplar Glade Elementary School in Williams Lake in 1967 and taught there until 1975. In August of the same year he moved to Vulcan and taught at Hazel Cameron Elementary until retiring in 1990.
Dick happily filled his retirement years gardening, sailing, canoeing, fishing, playing bridge, doing volunteer work, curling, making music, and traveling. In 1991 Dick and Pat sailed on the Mediterranean with friends for three months then explored Holland, England, Scotland, and Northern France for six weeks. In 1994 they exchanged houses with other friends from Leeds, England and lived there for three months. In 1997 they drove their fifth-wheel across Canada to the Maritimes. Also during this time they went to watch the Curling Briars in Red Deer, Regina, Calgary, and Edmonton. Dick was a man of many interests and was fascinated with science, airplanes, history and Mother Nature. He was blessed with a gift for music and could play many instruments. He was the musical director for the Poplar Glade Drum and Bugle Band, and the Vulcan Legion Drum and Bugle Band, as well as teaching music and organizing concerts at both schools. All his life he participated actively in various music groups in each community in which he lived, and gladly shared his musical talent.
Due to failing health, Dick moved into Vulcan Extendicare in January 2002 where he contentedly resided until his death and his family are extremely grateful for the excellent, loving care which he received there.
A memorial service to celebrate his life was held on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 at the Vulcan Legion with Lee Spice of the Vulcan United Church officiating.
In lieu of flowers, tributes in Dick’s memory could be made to S.T.A.R.S., 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, Alberta, T2E 8M7.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Directors. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.