Charles Ralph Borthwick, lean, prematurely grey for his age, eased his lumbering old single-engine amphibian airplane down through the thin deck of broken clouds. Below him, stretching as far as the eye could see was the green wildness of the Amazon jungle … (As written in Jamie Buckingham’s book called “Into the Glory”).
Ralph Borthwick, born September 9, 1916 in Kamloops, BC, passed from this earth to Glory on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at Ebenezer Home in Abbotsford. Ralph was predeceased by his first wife Vera Grace Borthwick who passed away June 1, 1989. He is survived by and will be lovingly remembered by his children Wayne Borthwick of Grand Forks, BC, Vern Borthwick of Calgary, AB, Heather Higley of Lima, Peru, and Brent Borthwick of Abbotsford, BC. He is also survived by his second wife Mary Roberts Borthwick and step-Âchildren George Roberts and Carol Pettus all of Southern California. He has also left a heritage of 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Ralph was a pilot in World War II with the RCAF, and met Vera in the spring of 1946 to later marry and serve as missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators since 1951. He piloted over 50,000 hours in small airplanes taking God’s word to the natives living in the remote areas of South America. He truly was a man of honor.
A graveside service will be held for family and close friends at the Hatzic Cemetery on Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 10:00 am. Everyone is invited to the memorial service also held Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 2:00 pm at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 32420 – 7th Avenue, Mission, BC. Pastor Bruce Mateika, brother in-law to Ralph, will be officiating both services.
In lieu of flowers, donations made to Wycliffe Bible Translators would be appreciated.
Arrangements entrusted to
Woodlawn Mission Funeral Home
604 826-9548