Chesley Leroy "Ches" Lockhart

Chesley Leroy "Ches" Lockhart - 92, of Kentville, passed peacefully on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 in the Veteran's Unit of Soldier's Memorial Hospital, Middleton. Born in Coldbrook on July 22, 1922, he was a son of the late Grant and Margaret (Schofield) Lockhart. Chesley attended Coldbrook School and Kings County Academy. He enlisted in the RCAF as an air gunner and wireless operator (Flight Sergeant) serving overseas from January to November 1943. Returning to Canada he was stationed in Prince Rupert, BC in 1944 until he was discharged on October 31, 1945. He returned to Coldbrook with wife, Sally and attended NSAC in Truro graduating in 1948. He went to MacDonald College at St. Anne de Bellevue, PQ and graduated with a B.SC in Agriculture as a plant pathologist and later to McGill in 1957 to receive his M.SC. Chesley commenced his employment with Canada Agriculture in the summer of 1948 and full time in May of 1950 on blueberry diseases and the storage of vegetables and fruit. He served as the President of the Professional Institute of the Public Service Alliance of Canada for 4 years (1976-1979) in Ottawa, ON. He returned to Kentville in 1980 to resume working for Canada Agriculture until retirement in March of 1989. He joined the Kentville Lions Club in 1966 and served as Secretary, President, Treasurer and as Chairman of several different committees. He received the Melvin Jones Fellowship award in 1998 and remained active in Lions and the CNIB. He was also involved with Fidelis House and the Air Cadets. He is survived by three daughters, Bonnie (Edward) Reeves, Coldbrook; Cheryl Verner, New Waterford; Corrine (James) Russell, Coldbrook; three sons, Ryan (Joanne), Bedford; Blaine (Tami), Kentville; Kevin, Coldbrook; two sisters, Alma Russell and Goldie McDow; 21 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, the former Selma "Sally" Mathison; a sister, Ella; three brothers, Sherman, Harley and Charles, in infancy; two grandsons, Joshua and Douglas; a nephew, Tim Mathison; a granddaughter-in-law, Melissa (Matthew) Reeves; Darrell Dodge (Kelly). Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, July 23, 2015 in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville, with a Lions service to be held at 6:00 p.m. A combined Royal Canadian Legion service and funeral service, followed by a reception, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 24, 2015 in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville, Mr. Eric Lockhart officiating. Interment will take place in the Elm Grove Cemetery, Steam Mill. Family flowers only by request. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory may be made to the CNIB, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia or the Veteran's Unit of Soldier's Memorial Hospital. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.