Dorothy Carleton

Dorothy Eileen Carleton (nee Sweetzer) passed away peacefully at the Bow-Crest Care Centre in Calgary on June 30, 2018.

Dorothy had a wonderful and active life, full of laughter, singing, and caring about others. She brought joy to so many people, and will be dearly missed by family and friends.

Dorothy was born in London, England September 5, 1919, and

grew up with her adoptive parents George and Alice Fowler in

Reading, Berkshire, England.

Early on Dorothy was introduced to music by her Mum and

older sister Marjorie. She loved to sing, and her life story

is in large part a musical.

George worked at Huntley and Palmers biscuits and her favorite treats as a child were the "reject" digestive biscuits that her Dad brought home for the family. She loved digestive biscuits all her life.

Dorothy attended Alfred Sutton School in Reading until Grade 8, when she had to start work to help support the family. Her most memorable assignment was as a Short-hand typist for the English Forestry Association. She loved to bike to work, a hilly half hour ride each way, and she enjoyed her picnic lunch.

Dorothy also loved exercise and dance, and she joined England's "Women's League of Health and Beauty", where she did exercises and performed in bare feet. Their motto was "Movement is Life", and that motto really stuck with her. She was forever on the move and really enjoyed walking.

When war broke out in 1939 everything changed. Dorothy volunteered as an Air Raid Warden with the Civil Defense Service, and her job was to go house to house with a flashlight and make sure residents had their lights turned off during enemy bombing. She always recalled the distinctive sound of the enemy bombers.

With good friend Olive Openshaw, Dorothy would dance and entertain at concerts to raise money for the war effort. Through another good friend Phyllis Tucker, Dorothy met a handsome Canadian soldier Ed Carleton, and they courted prior to the Normandy invasion. Dorothy experienced the trauma of having Ed away in battle, then getting seriously wounded. Fortunately Ed recovered, and they were married

in Reading March 3, 1945. Friends and family contributed their food coupons so that a wedding dinner could be enjoyed, as food was rationed.

With Ed already back in Canada, in April 1946 Dorothy made the

trip to Canada as a war bride on the steamship "Letitia" with her baby son Michael, landing at Pier 21 in Halifax. Then followed

several days travel by train to Calgary. Ed met his family at the

train station and took them to his home in Didsbury, Alberta.

Dorothy had to adapt to small town prairie life in Alberta, and a crowded Carleton family home.

Eventually Ed was fortunate to obtain work in Banff National Park with the warden service. After starting at Lake Louise, his first district posting was at Bow Summit (Mistaya River district) in 1948. When Dorothy first saw the wilderness cabin that was to be their home, she said "Ed, you've got to be kidding!". She had to adapt again, and grew to love the backcountry experience, especially at Stoney Creek, where a plaque was later installed with her story, as an example of the life of warden wives living in the wilderness and supporting their husband's, and also home schooling their kids. While stationed at Stoney Creek, a second son Terry was born in Banff in 1951.

In 1953, Ed was posted to the Banff district, and the family lived right next to the Buffalo Paddock in an old CPR house. Now Dorothy had a house with running water, access to the amenities of town, and Michael could attend school. A third son Brian was born in 1954.

In 1955 however, there was another posting - to the Mt. Eisenhower district at what is now Castle Junction. Dorothy now had additional responsibilities: giving information to visitors, selling fishing licenses, relaying telephone calls, and other tasks. It was also back to home schooling for a while, until a car pooling arrangement with other warden families allowed shared driving back and forth to Banff.

Often Dorothy was on her own, as Ed was away on mountain rescues, fire fighting assignments or backcountry patrols. In those days, the people involved with the warden service were a tight community and supported each other as much as possible. Dorothy had many good friends and she was always caring and supportive.

Ed and Dorothy bought a house in Banff at 139 Rainbow Avenue

(the "End of the Rainbow"), and the family moved to Banff in 1961

when Ed became Town Warden. Dorothy loved the house and would live there until September 2015, when she moved to Cascade House

in Banff. In December 2017, she was admitted to the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, and in January 2018 transferred to the Bow-Crest Care Centre in Calgary. During her time under care, she made an impact with her positive attitude, her humour, and enthusiasm for

music and singing.

Dorothy was a big part of community life in Banff and eventually became an icon in the town. Ed and Dorothy were very involved in the Royal Canadian Legion Colonel Moore Branch #26, and Dorothy was an active member of the Ladies Auxiliary, and also the I.O.D.E.

Remembrance Day was perhaps the most important day of the year for Dorothy and the family. She was proud to march in the parade over the years, and in 2017 attended the ceremony in her 98th year.

Dorothy and Ed loved the social life in Banff, and particularly

enjoyed dancing the night away to the music of Louis Trono.

She was involved with the Banff Seniors, and the Seniors' choir,

and in her mid- nineties was still conducting the choir, and doing

her best to keep the choir going.

Dorothy really enjoyed war bride reunions, and many times

joined Saskatchewan and Alberta War brides to sing the

"Songs of the Empire" and share their stories with each other.

Dorothy was a volunteer for the hospital for many years, and really cheered people up with her visits to residents. For many years Dorothy, accompanied by Cheryl Craver on the piano, would sing to the residents at St. Martha's Place hospice.

Dorothy participated in the annual Terry Fox Run in Banff for

over 30 years, and she always looked forward to the event.

Dorothy was honored several times by the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and was part of several exhibits including

"Ten Most Courageous Women of the Rockies". At a special event

on October 19, 2016, a painting of Dorothy as a war bride by artist

Bev Tosh was added to the museum collection. In addition,

Dorothy volunteered at the Windy Cabin on Back to Banff days,

baking cookies in the barrel oven, and telling stories about the

warden's life to visitors.

In 2009, Dorothy received the "Minister's Senior Service Award" at Government House in Edmonton, honoring excellence in voluntary service to Seniors.

Dorothy loved her family very much, and was always willing

to help with taking care of the grandkids, especially during the

'88 Olympic Winter Games, and hosting gatherings at the end

of the rainbow. It was always such a joy to arrive at the house

and hear her cheerful greeting.

Dorothy was predeceased by her Mum and Dad George and Alice Fowler, her sister Marjorie Tingay, and her husband Ed in 1994.

She is survived by sons Michael (Sylvia), Terry (Mary Lou) and Brian, grandchildren Ingrid Carleton-Dodds (Aaron), Erik Carleton (Karen Messenger), Patrick Carleton (Mayumi Miyao), Kevin Carleton, great-grandchildren Jonathan, Nicholas, Victoria, and Myla, extended family in Canada and the UK, and dear friends Olive Openshaw in Reading, and music partner Cheryl Craver of Canmore.

No doubt there is much singing and laughter in heaven

with Dorothy's presence. Happy Trails to you Dorothy!

You will always be remembered.

The family would like to thank the staff at Cascade House in Banff, Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, and Bow-Crest Care Centre in Calgary for their great support and care of Dorothy.

The family expresses sincere gratitude to the Park Warden Service Alumni Society for their warmth and support towards Dorothy and their interest in her history.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dorothy's name to the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, the I.O.D.E., the Terry Fox Foundation, or charity of donor's choice.

A Celebration of Life and gathering of friends and family was held

on Friday, September 7, 2018 at the Banff Park Lodge.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.

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