Obituary of Arnold Sanford

SANFORD - Arnold Payson, age 81, of Walton. We are sad to announce the passing of Arnold on Friday, September 2, 2016 at Hants Community Hospital, Windsor, after a long courageous battle with cancer. Born in Walton, Hants Co. on May 15, 1935, he was a son of the late Payson L. and Mary "Mae" (Stillman) Sanford. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. Arnold worked as an underground miner for Dresser Minerals in Walton for 11 years. A lifetime member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Union, Local 83, he worked for many years in the carpentry industry in Halifax and surrounding areas, often as Project Superintendent on the site. He was involved in many carpentry projects in the local area and shared his expertise with others, building many homes and doing renovations along the Shore and beyond. Arnold was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, and spending time at his camp by the river with friends and family. He loved baseball from a very young age, and in later years played with the Old-Timers League, traveling all over Nova Scotia with his wife, Doris. He still enjoyed watching his favorite team, the Blue Jays. Arnie loved to dance and socialize, and attended many dances with Doris over the years. He was a real jokester and loved to make people laugh. He will be sadly missed by all of the wonderful friends he made over the years, and especially his best friend and buddy, his dog Morgan. An adherent of the Grace United Church in Walton, Arnie was a wonderful husband, father, and provider. He loved his son Blayze dearly, and was a very proud grandfather and great-grandfather who always took great interest in his family's accomplishments. Arnie will be deeply missed by his wife of 56 years, Doris (Singer) and son, Blayze (Betty), of Walton; grandchildren, Holly (Kevin) O'Brien, Edmonton, Alberta; and Nicholas (Hayley Fall), Greenhill, Hants Co.; great-grandchildren, Emma Jane O'Brien and Wyatt Nicholas Arnold Sanford; sister-in-law, Sarah Sanford; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Arnie was predeceased by his sisters, Alice (Lawrence Smith), Lorena (Bernard Perry), Alma (Ralph Jones), Grace (Vernon Young), Ruby, Audrey (John Worr), and Marjorie (Nelson Barbrick); brothers, Allison (Mary Thomas), Avon, and John. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone for their visits to our home, thoughtful calls, and many cards and notes. Special thanks to Arnie's Palliative Care nurse, Amber Phillips; what would we have done without you! We would also like to thank Ellie MacPhee and her VON team for their care, and the Palliative Care doctors, Dr. Jeffrey Dempster and Dr. Robert Horton. A very special thank-you to our son Blayze for all of his help during Arnie's illness, and to our niece Joanne Beck, who was just a phone call away when needed. Cremation has taken place; visitation will be held at J. Wilson Allen Funeral Home, Summerville on Wednesday, September 7 from 7-9pm, with a memorial service at Grace United Church, Walton on Thursday, September 8 at 2pm, Lois Brison-Brown and Rev. Ron Frampton officiating, followed by a reception at Walton Fire Hall. Private family committal at Grace United Cemetery following the service. Donations in memory of Arnie may be made to the Walton Cemetery Fund c/o Lorna Burbidge, Walton, NS B0N 2R0; or to HCH Palliative Care Program, 89 Payzant Drive, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0. Arrangements have been entrusted to the compassionate care of J. Wilson Allen Funeral Home, Hwy 215, Summerville, ph-1-902-633-2431 or please visit our website at www.allenfh.ca to sign the guest book or send private condolences.