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Peacefully at the Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg on Saturday, March 26th, 2022, Bill Ruttle at 90 years of age. Dear husband of Frances Varden. Father of Cameron, Wayne, and Randy Ruttle and step-father of Karen Blezard, the late Keith and wife Nancy. Also missed by his extended family and friends. Bill was a bagpiper for 65 years and a Northumberland Mall Santa for many years. Cremation with later interment at Centenary Cemetery in Roseneath. Those wishing may make a memorial donation to the Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Northumberland Hills Hospital Auxiliary
So sorry for you loss Fran and the family. I did not know he had passed. He was such a nice man. He will surely be missed.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation
To the Ruttle family; I am sorry to hear of Bill's passing. I knew Bill as a fellow piper; he played with the Port Hope band and I with the Cobourg band. He was a quiet fellow as I knew him but he always had an interesting piece of information to pass on. He was quite a character and I was impressed with him playing his pipes until well into his 80s. We will all miss him. With my sincere condolences, Michael Beech
I remember many years ago while walking through the mall you were playing Santa Claus & you spoke to me and I was so pleased that you recognized me.We probably marched on at Cobourg games many times & as highlanders our bonds of friendship never ceases. My prayers is that you will rest in peace Brother with the LOED JESUS CHRIST. GOD BLESS.
Bill was one of the first people I had met when I moved to Cobourg! At the time we left the city we lived up from his residence! He was one of the most welcoming souls I knew! He helped our transition into the community to be one more easier & he was always there to help when that was needed! His talents were many & his humour & kindness shall be very missed! He was one in a million! My condolences to his entire family & all who knew & loved him! May he rest in eternal peace!
I am so sorry to hear of Bills passing, what a nice man with great humer
I had the good fortune of working with Bill for many years in his role as Northumberland Mall Santa. He was a pleasure to work with. Every year I would receive numerous e-mails and phone calls asking which shifts would have Bill present as our Santa. He had seen many families through years of Christmas photos and a thread of continuity for numerous generations. Rest In Peace Bill. -- Northumberland Mall.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation
My condolences to the family for their loss. Bill will be missed by myself and others who have had the pleasure of playing in the PipeBand with him. John Kirkwood Branch 163 Pipes and Drums member.
So very sorry to hear of Bill's passing. He touched so many lives and will be sorely missed. Our sincere condolences to Fran and family. With fond memories, Chris and Brenda Worsnop
Dear Fran and Family: Was sorry to hear of the loss of Bill. He was a true gentleman, regarded in highest esteem by all his bowling friends. I'm sure your shared memories will help you through this sad time. R.I.P. Bill.
We are so very sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. We send our thoughts and prayers to Fran and the rest of his Family and many Friends. He will be truly missed. Play your pipes so we can continue to enjoy them 🙏
Dearest Fran, I am so very sad to hear of Bill’s passing. He was funny and kind and sweet and so much more and he will be greatly missed by many, though none as much as you. Know that you’re held in the thoughts and prayers of many. Rest In Peace dear man.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation
Fran Our sincere condolences! Thinking of you.
Fran and family, My sincere condolences on the loss of piper Bill. He was a community minded man who always took the opportunity to stop and say hello whenever we would meet even when he was playing Santa at the mall and my children were crying - imagine being afraid of Bill! Heaven has gained a new piper. By the right, quick, march.
Sincere condolences for your loss. Bill was a very sweet, kind man. Dennis and Shirley
Fran so sorry for your loss. You were always very supportive to the Thackeray Family.
Rest in peace bill. I marched behind you for alot of years and it was always a pleasure to hear you play,dick byrnes
So sorry to hear of Bill's passing. We will miss seeing him in the parades along King Street. A true community minded man. Alma and John Draper
Dear Fran & family, So very sorry to hear of Bills passing. Deepest sympathy to you and all the family at this sad time. ❤️🙏 Patricia & Wayne
So sad to see you have passed I loved our conversations when you would pop in and go and play in the kitchen or out in the garden.The legion will miss you smile xx
Fran - so sorry to hear about Bill - thinking about you and your family.Take care, j
We're saddened to hear of Bill's passing. He was such a knowledgeable man and enjoyed life. Thinking of you, Fran, and family at this sad time.
Dear Fran,, We were sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Dear Fran and family: We were saddened to learn of Bill passing on, he was a great guy. Remembering lots of band trips and other activities. You are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
Dear Fran So sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this sad time. May the happy memories carry you through this difficult time and may they be a part of your strength that has carried you through each day.
Dear Fran and family. We are sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. He will be missed by many friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. John and Iris
So sad to hear about Bill. We have some wonderful memories of our times together in the pipe band. Such a dedicated and cheerful person. Sincere condolences, Fran.
Thoughts and prayers reaching out to you Fran, and the family members. Bill came to the Port Hope band many years ago. He was a piper who I had trouble keeping in reeds, because no matter how strong they were, he would always blow them out! He also had some great expressions. Trying to get him to change notes he played for years to the way we played he would say, "You know you can't teach an old dog new tricks!" He would often snap to attention and salute and address me as "Pipe major sir! or Pipey sir", which was more than I wanted but he was old school regimental, with ghillie brogues that were polished like a mirror. Bill was also a man of deep faith who attended Roseneath United regularly and watched online after Covid. I will miss my good friend as his "Reverend Pipe Major" and friend of the family. Rest in Peace Bill. The bagpiping world mourns your passing.
My deepest condolences to you Fran, and to all the family. I hope all the cherished memories will help you through this during difficult time. Bill was such a wonderful person, he will be greatly missed by all.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation
Lots of love Fran! Bill was a great guy and will never be forgotten!
Peter and Jan O'Donnell wish to extend our condolences to the Ruttle family on their loss. We knew Bill from the Seniors bowling league. He was a good friend and an amazing bowler. He will be sorely missed.
My most sincere condolences to the Ruttle family. I will miss Bill playing the pipes for us at our functions in Cobourg.
Dear Fran and Family - thinking of you at this difficult time. What a great bowler. Treasure the memories. Barb & George
To Fran and family we were sorry to hear of Bill's passing. He will be greatly missed in our community. Cherish all those good memories and hold them close to your heart. Wendy and Rick
Fran: so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. As you are always telling me," Stay Strong." I am thinking of you at this sad time. deepest sympathy and I will be in touch. Just remember, memories are one thing no one can take away from you. Hugs.
Dear Fran, so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. You always spoke so fondly of him, how he loved to bake and fix things.I know your life together was too short and he will dearly be missed by family and many friends. Hugs and love Lisa
Fran & Family . We are so deeply sorry to hear of Bills passing. We will always remember him as our favourite Santa Clause and clinic jokester, always putting a smile on our face. He will be greatly missed.
Fran, having gotten to know you and Bill through your Saturday morning breakfasts at the restaurant, you both felt like extended family. I loved the interaction, caring, and humor between the two of you. Will never forget that twinkle in his eyes, or showing off his knees lol Cherish your memories, I know I will. Sending you a big hug.
Fran & family; So sorry to hear of Bills passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time.
Dear Fran and family my deepest sympathy to you, Bill will be so missed by so many friends going to miss all those great hugs he always had to hand out hugs to you
Much love to Fran at this sad time. May she find comfort in thinking of the countless people whose lives he brightened - the kids who found in him a wonderful Santa Claus, the veterans for whom his bagpipes sounded in their hearts, and so many others.
Fran, please accept my deepest condolences to you and your family for the loss of your husband, Bill. I am sorry I didn't know him. From everything I read, he was an amazing man! May he rest in peace.
Dear Fran and Family , we were so shocked to hear of Billy's passing ,our thoughts and prayers are with u all .It was such enjoyment to work with Bill as a Santa at Northumberland Mall ,and he became a true friend and the years after ,our Breakfast together , I am so happy I had the opportunity that we had at the last breakfast ,and Robert had such pleasure of playing with Bill in the Legion Pipe Band ,Great Pipet he was . Going to miss you Bill your humor and a dear friendship, RIP Bill 🙏🙏will miss you 🙏
On behalf of the cadets and officers at 116 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Skeena, we offer our sincere condolences to all of Mr.Ruttle's family and friends. Bill was our honorary ships piper and played at our Skeena Remembrance and Battle of the Atlantic services. Tomorrow during our opening colours ceremony, we will take a moment and remember our shipmate. Fair winds and following seas, permission to carry on Sir ! Lt(N) Chris Barker 116 Skeena Sea Cadets
I was fortunate to be the one who sold Bill his engagement ring prior to his proposal while playing Santa at the Northumberland Mall. It was memorable. He was a lovely man.
So sorry to hear of Bill's passing. He was such a nice man. I can remember on parade in Cobourg at Christmas, a child yelling to his mom that Santa played the bagpipes. He will be fondly remembered and truly missed.
So sorry to hear about Bill. He was a wonderful man and a dear friend. I, along with many others, will miss him.
Fran, I am so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. He was such a gentle soul, and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. 🙏
So sorry to hear of Bill’s passing .. He and his wife use to come to McDonalds almost everyday when I worked there for there morning coffee… He will be missed…
Fran, I am so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. It was my pleasure to play with Bill in The Port Hope Pipe band and when I was parade director for the Cobourg Santa Parade, Bill came to our rescue. He had a great sense of humour and will be missed.
Dear Fran and Family, I was saddened to hear of Bill's passing. Talented bagpiper and a great mall Santa. He will be dearly missed by everyone. Cherish the memories of your life with Bill and keep the memories close to your heart. My sincere condolences. Leyland William "Bill" Ruttle November 11, 1931 - March 26, 2022 -REST IN PEACE-
Great guy that did so much for the community.
Fran & family, I am so sorry to hear of Bill's passing he sure will be missed. Hugs Marlene.
Fran, I was so sorry to hear of your sad loss. Please accept my sincere sympathy, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this sad time.
Fran and Family, Dean and I are saddened to hear of Bill’s passing. We will forever be grateful for all the chats and laughs and hugs shared with him over the years. He was the Ultimate Gentleman and we will miss him terribly. Love to you Fran, he always spoke so well of you and never without a smile… you were loved xoxo
Fran, we are so sad to hear of your loss. Thinking of you at this very sad time.. ❤️
Fran and family of Bill, Please accept our sincere condolences on your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time. Sincerely, Tom & CarolAnn
Bill was such a sweet man. A real gentleman with a great sense of humour and maybe a naughty little twinkle in his eye. All our love to you Fran. Nick and Karen Parry Lou Baker
So sorry to hear of Bills passing please accept our condolences RIP Bill
Oh Fran, I am so sorry for your loss of Bill - he was a treat! Very glad that the two of you found a life together, too short of course, but you had it. If there is anything I can do - a visit, drive, walk - whatever, I’m good for it. My thoughts are with you.