Rev. Howard Rokeby-Thomas

1907 - 1995  (88 years)

• Name	Howard Rokeby-Thomas
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	1907
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	military, religion
  Military	WW2
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-157182P
  Died	23 May 1995
  Buried	Crieff Cemetery, Crieff, Wellington Co., Ontario
  Person ID	I157182	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Family	Anne Roszell,   b. Abt 1910,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	12 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F45062	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Members will be saddened to learn of the death of Rev. Howard Rokeby-Thomas on May 23, 1995, in his 88th year. Rev. Rokeby-Thomas was ordained in the Anglican Church in 1936, and retired in 1972, having served in many parishes in Southern Ontario. He was a veteran of the Second World War. Rev. Howard Rokeby-Thomas was an early member of the Ontario Genealogical Society, and a charter member of the Waterloo-Wellington Branch, OGS. A funeral service was held on May 26, 1995 at St. James Anglican Church, Cambridge (Hespeler), Ontario. Interment was in Crieff Cemetery, Crieff, Ontario. Our sincere sympathy goes out to Rev. Rokeby-Thomas's wife, the former Anna Roszell, and to his family. Branch Notes, Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society Agu 1995 pg 35 _____________________________ A Tribute to Howard R. Rokeby-Thomas By Ryan Taylor The executive and membership of Waterloo-Wellington Branch were pleased to award Howard R. Rokeby-Thomas of Cambridge a life membership in recognition of his extensive contributions to the field of family history and to our Society in particular. The presentation of a certificate was made privately by Ryan Taylor and Frances Hoffman at Dr. Rokeby-Thomas' home in May. Howard R. Rokeby-Thomas was born in Gloucestershire and raised in England by his grandmother. She was a member of Nairn clan and his first interest in family history was sparked by her pride. After a time spent in London in the export trade, he emigrated. His first intention was to go to Shanghai, but financial considerations led him to remain in Canada, where he entered the University of Toronto's Wycliffe College. In 1934 he was ordained for the Artic and went to Cambridge Bay, then Canada's northernmost parish (off the coast of the Northwest Territories). He reckoned the area of his charge in thousands of square miles. He remained as a missionary in the Artic until 1939. In 1936 he was joined by his bride, Anna Roszell; they were married in Coppermine, the nearest mainland church, the bride arriving by plane and the groom on the RCMP ship St. Roche. While he traveled among his parishioners, Howard did a great deal of pioneering geographical work, for the maps of his area were very primitive. As a result of his work he was made a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in London, England. He served as a chaplain during World War II, working in the front lines during the Italian campaign. Afterwards, he resumed parish work serving with distinction in Port Stanley in particular, before accepting a post at synod headquarters in Toronto. He was on of the executives at the Churchman, the Anglican newspaper. He once again served for a short time as a parish priest before retiring in 1972 to Kitchener. While in Toronto, Howard was an original member of Toronto Branch and has always given freely of sage advice to Society members and genealogists around the world. He continues to have an extensive correspondence with those having Nairn connections. Now that Howard and Anna are living in retirement in Cambridge, he is no longer able to attend branch meetings in Kitchener, nor to bring his own particular presence to the conducting of our annual elections. The branch is pleased to honour someone who has contributed internationally to the advancement of family history. Branch Notes Vol 21 1993 Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society

  
  

• Event Map

  Buried - - Crieff Cemetery, Crieff, Wellington Co., Ontario  = Link to Google Earth