(Leo) Ralph Lang

March 20, 1928 - August 21, 2021

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On August 21, 2021, at Meaford Hospital, Ralph Lang of Toronto, in his 94th year, peacefully passed away, with family by his side. He is survived by his wife Betty (nee Dunk) of 69 years, his son David (Susan) of Williamsford, his granddaughter Alexandra (George) of Aylmer Ontario, and his grandson Cameron (Hilary) of Langley B.C., and his step grandchildren David Brown (Kristy and Brodie) of Burlington, Kaitlyn Addison (Dale) and Joshua Brown of Hamilton. Special thanks to the staff at Sunrise of Burlington, the staff at Errinrung in Thornbury the nurses and doctors at Meaford Hospital.

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Ralph was born in Winnipeg, the only child of Ralph Sr and Mildred Lang. The family settled in Toronto during the depression. In 1944 Ralph met Betty while both were attending Bloor Collegiate, in Toronto. He loved cars and raced car rallies with his best friend Ed Richardson, both as young men and again after they both retired. For the majority of his working life, he was in the finance field, spending most of his working years with Massey-Ferguson. Ralph took up running in the late 1960’s. Over the next 40 plus years, he was involved in the running community on a world-wide scale, both as an athlete and as an organizer. He competed in most of the local distance races held in the Southern Ontario area, and many marathon races, including the Boston Marathon on two occasions. He was instrumental in organizing the first World Masters Track and Field championships that were held in Toronto, in 1976. Those events were the basis for what is now the World Masters Games. He gave up competitive racing at the age of 87. He was an active cross county skier. He would often reminisce about his friends at their annual, “Boys of Winter”, gathering at Parry Sound. He was also known as the oldest water skier on Chesley Lake, where he last was up on water-skis at the age of 85.

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Cremation has taken place and arrangements entrusted to the Garafraxa Hill Funeral Home, Chatsworth, Ontario. As Ralph was an avid animal lover, please consider donations to a Humane Society, SPCA, animal shelter or an animal sanctuary, to be made in Ralph’s memory. Online condolences may be expressed at www.garafraxahillfuneral.com