Obituary of Neil Gladstone Price

Neil Gladstone Price, age 104, died peacefully in Greenwich on December 27, 2020. He was born in Hartfield, New Brunswick on March 18, 1916 to John C. and Harriet (Marston) Price, weighing in at 2lbs 6 oz. He survived his first winter bundled in blankets and warmed in the bread warmer of the old kitchen stove! Fortunately, he would go on to live a healthy and fulfilling, long life.

Neil was the beloved husband of Mary Morrison, to whom he was married to for 67 years. He was father to Carolyn (Fritz Weiland), Heather (Peter MacKay) and Nancy (Paul Morgan), had eight grandchildren; Kurt & Erica Weiland; Britt, Eliot & Scott McKinnon; Angus, Noel, and Gabe Morgan and one great-grand child, Amos Eli McKinnon.

Neil spent his formative years in New Brunswick, Quebec and PEI.  He told wonderful stories of his time as a young boy in Quebec when he cared for Grey Owl’s beaver kits. He was inspired by this pioneer Canadian environmentalist and his love of nature endured throughout his lifetime.  Even at 100 years of age he loved to go out and count the deer on the hill at sunset while at his cottage in Petite Riviere.

He received a teachers’ license in 1936 from Prince of Wales, PEI and in 1940 a BA from Acadia University.  He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force 1940-1945 as an air observer, navigator, and group intelligence officer. Following the war in 1949 he received his Bachelor of Civil Law from UNB and practiced as a solicitor in the legal division of the Dept. of National Health and Welfare in Ottawa. In 1953 he returned to Acadia to receive his theology degree and went on to serve as a pastor in Ontario and the Maritime provinces, finishing his ministry at the Wolfville Baptist church, 1973-1984.

His love for Acadia lasted his lifetime. Initially recruited by athletic director Fred Kelly, he became an all-star goalie for Acadia: one of his proudest moments was as captain, leading Acadia to its first Maritime Intercollegiate Hockey title in 1940.  He was admitted to Acadia Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.  Neil was also the longest serving member of the Board of Governors of Acadia retiring in his 90’s. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity by Acadia University in 2006 and, at the age of 103 in 2019, he received Acadia’s lifetime achievement award.

Neil will be remembered for his fair, ethical approach to life.  He felt an obligation to help where and when needed and faithfully served his community.  He was a founding member of Wolfville Meals on Wheels, past chairman of the Crosbie Center in Kentville, Past President of the United Baptist Atlantic Convention, Chairman of the Outreach Commission of the Baptist Federation (CBF) of Canada, and CBF representative for the Canadian Council of Justice, Corrections and Religious Liberty Commission. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Police Commission for many years and was an interim RCMP Chaplin for the Swiss air tragedy. After retirement he moved to Tideways Co-op in Wolfville, during which time he served as Chair of the Wolfville Habitat Co-op. The past nine years he lived in Shannex, Blomidon Court, where he busied himself writing his memoirs, “Flashbacks and Slapshots” and “Just Wondering,” completed when he was 102. He lived his life according to his daily morning prayer “Renew a right spirit within me.”

Neil had a great sense of humour and loved family gatherings and other social events. He was a people person, he loved people and that was reflected throughout his life.

The family extends thanks and appreciation to all the staff at the Blomidon Nursing Home in Greenwich, Nova Scotia. Their love, kindness and friendship were remarkable. Charitable donations in memory of Neil may be made to any local food bank, to Wolfville Baptist Church or to a charity of choice.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, Jan 3, 2021, (3:00 p.m.) at the Wolfville Baptist Church. Dr. Scott Kindred-Barnes will officiate. Due to Covid-19 capacity is limited to 100 and protocols of distancing and masks are in place. If you are planning to attend please email jlongley@gmail.com so that numbers can be recorded. There will be no reception. A celebration of sharing good food and stories with friends is deferred to another time!   Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS, B4R 1B9 (902-679-2822).