Obituary:

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Robert Hedley Eccleston (Bob) at the age of 72. He was the most loving and beloved father and grandfather, husband, brother and friend. We will forever miss his guiding presence in our lives. He was our rock, our soft place to fall, and always there for anyone who needed him. He was generous with his love, his time, and his talents.

Bob was born on April 18, 1946 in Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria, England and was very proud of his English heritage. He immigrated to Calgary, Canada with his parents Robert (Bob) and Winifred (Winnie) and his beloved older sister Ann in Sept.1953 on the S.S. Atlantic. He lived the majority of his early years in Thorncliffe, where he had many adventures and made lifelong friends. He attended both the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, graduating in 1967 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Over the next 30 years Bob brought his skills and experience to many roles at many companies and was well respected in his industry. He most recently worked for GeoMetrix Rail Logistics and Crude Oil on Rail Enterprises (CORE) and retired this past year.

Bob was a member and executive of the Alberta Family Histories Society, serving as Vice-, President and Past President from 2015 until 2018.

Bob had many dear friends that will miss him greatly, some of whom he has known since he was quite young. He loved to share stories about his life and had a great appreciation for the people he met along the way. He was able to make friends wherever he went and never missed an opportunity to get to know someone, whether the cashier at the grocery store or the person sitting beside him in a waiting room. He was genuinely interested in people and their lives and was generous even to those he barely knew. He loved a debate, was a die-hard Conservative, and was very proud to be an Albertan and a Canadian.

Remembrance service held at McInnis & Holloway Crowfoot Chapel in Calgary, Alberta, on February 26, 2019.