The Memorial for Ron Warburton.

Ronald Walter Warburton, aged 91, died peacefully 3 March 2017 in the loving presence of his daughters, Gillian Simpson and Hazel Warburton, at Homelands, Cowfold, West Sussex, England.

Ron was born 21 August 1925 to Walter and Ivy Warburton in Swansea, Wales and was educated at Canton High School in Cardiff. During World War II, Ron left school in 1941 to work in Air Despatch. In January 1944, not yet 19 years old, he joined the Royal Air Force, Bomber Command, and proudly earned a place as the Flight Engineer in a Lancaster crew in 218 Gold Coast Squadron.

His service included 21 dangerous missions over Germany (many as lead aircraft), the 1945 food airlift to Holland, and the repatriation of British prisoners-of-war. Ron later served a tour of duty in Burma (now Myanmar).

At his death, Ron was the last surviving member of 218 Gold Coast Squadron. Immediately after his discharge, in June 1947 Ron wed the love of his life, Nancy Margaret Bargery of Cardiff, who survives him. Settling in Cardiff, Ron was employed as a draughtsman, then owned a specialized shop-fitting business, then was the managing Secretary of a British Petroleum sports club.

A lifelong Liberal, Ron was elected as Councillor for Plasnewydd Ward to the Cardiff City Council in 1961, serving during the three years that oversaw the urban planning that guided the renaissance of the City of Cardiff.

In 1973 Ron became the proprietor of a sporting goods shop in Oxted, England and moved to Surrey with his family. Ron was ever a keen sportsman. He was a talented cricketer who played club cricket in Wales, notably for Guest Keen & Nettlefold in the 1960s. After retiring from playing, he was welcomed on the pitch as a knowledgeable, respected umpire on account of his honesty and fairness, frequently to the chagrin of his own sons and grandsons, who he was more likely to give out.

He was an enthusiastic rugby fan who played for Llandaff and refereed at a senior level, a path followed by a son and grandson. As a younger man, he was an ardent tennis player. As a retired sportsman, he was a ferocious table tennis player who ran a table tennis club for nearly 15 years. Not surprisingly, Ron raised a family of avid sport fans.

Ron was a creative person, an unabashed tinkerer who could build anything, a talented water colorist, and a writer who, at 80 years old, dramatically chronicled his R.A.F. experiences in a well-received book, Ron’s War. He was an expert ballroom dancer. With his wife Margaret in his arms, Ron could gracefully dance anyone else under the table.

Ron was always the first to act in kindness to other people. His integrity was absolute, his courtesy and generosity unfailing, and his sense of humor and wit completely gleeful. He had a gift for bringing people together, whether building consensus or socially.

Ron Warburton was the patriarch of a large, loving family who mourn him and will miss him greatly. He leaves his beloved Margaret, his wife of 70 wonderful years. He leaves his four children: Roger Warburton, Russel Warburton, Hazel Warburton, and Gillian Simpson, and their spouses: Eileen Warburton, Christine Warburton, and Dominic Simpson. He leaves nine grandchildren: Aneurin Warburton, Robert Warburton, Gemma Warburton, Patrick Montgomery, Rhys Warburton, Edward Simpson, Charlotte Knott, Matthew Simpson, and Eliot Warburton-Cornish, and their spouses and partners: Tatyana, Christopher, Lisa, Claire, Lisa, Katie, Jen, and Jon, and seven great-grandchildren: Henrietta, Oscar, Griffyn, Sophie, Henry, Nathan, and Olivia. He also leaves his sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Ron Challis, and their family. He leaves many friends.

A memorial celebration and committal was held at 4 PM on 20 March 2017 at Surrey and Sussex Crematorium, Balcombe Road, Crawley, Sussex RH 10 3NC, United Kingdom.