Donald Ross McTaggart

September 7, 1924 - May 28, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the end of Don's life, a kind, generous and gentle man. He passed away at Belleville General Hospital with his daughter by his side. Don was a devoted husband, a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. He had many friends and relatives, all of whom thought the world of him, and he of them.

Don is predeceased by his beloved wife Ruth (nee Fry); loving sons Terry and Michael and 2 infant babies; brother Wallace and infant brother Harold; sisters Helen and Amey; brothers in-law Gerald Bailey, Cliff Doyle, Harry Fry, Ted Fry, George Fry, Tom Fry, Oscar Mangold, Howard Cooney, Glen Jaques and Glenn Scarlett; sisters in-law Bee Mangold, Anne Cooney, Fran Fry and Greta Fry.

Dear father of Donna who loved him very much. He is also survived by loving daughters in-law Maxine and Pam; foster brother Dennis Hutt (Barb); brother in-law John Fry; sisters in-law Vera McTaggart, Anita Jaques, Lorraine Scarlett, Lou Fry and Barb Fry. Lovingly remembered by his grandchildren Shannon (Lloyd), Benjamin (Jenny), Amber, Christopher (Kelsea) and 6 great grandsons. Don is also cherished by numerous nephews and nieces, "everyone loved Uncle Don".

Don was born in Tweed, Ontario to Willard and Margaret and grew up in Thomasburg, Ontario. He lost his mother at the age of 6, began work at the age of 14 at the general store grading eggs and also learned duties in the Post Office section of the store. At 16, he learned to drive the store truck and began picking up eggs from farms in the region for grading and selling. In the summer of '43, Don and a friend travelled to Saskatchewan to work the harvest. In September he received a call to come back to Ontario to report for duty in WWII. He served as an rear air gunner 419 squadron RCAF.

Prior to going overseas, he met Ruth and they had begun dating. Don returned home in June of 1945, and in 1946 he and Ruth were married. After graduating from Belleville Business College he worked for Swift's in Belleville. Terry was born in 1948 and Michael in 1952. In 1955, the family moved to Brampton as Don had secured a job at Brampton Poultry. Donna was born in 1956.

He went on to work for MacDonnell-Douglas in Malton as a foreman in shipping and receiving. After retirement, he worked as a court attendant with the Brampton court house. Don and Ruth returned to Belleville in 1989. Ruth passed away in 2012 and Don continued to live in their Victoria Avenue home until May of 2020, at which time he moved to Bridge Street Retirement Residence.

In lieu of flowers and in Don's memory, please consider donating to Bridge St. United Church, Belleville or the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 99, Belleville.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Rushnell Funeral Homes - Belleville (80 Highland Ave., Belleville 613-968-5588). A Memorial Service for Don will be held on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 11:00 am with visitation one hour prior to service. Interment of ashes in Burnbrae Cemetery.

Online condolences welcomed at www.rushnellfuneralhomes.com