Major General Ernest Basil Creber, CD, CMM, passed peacefully away at home, surrounded by his loving family. Survived by Tina, his best friend, the love of his life and wife of 72 years, his children Michael (Monique), Catherine (Ernie Wong), Christopher, grandchildren Jeff Wong (Haley), Andrew Franklin, Doug Wong, Grace Rei (Andrew), Michelle Creber and great-grandchildren, Sawyer Wong and Rayla Rei.
Second only to his love of family, Ernie took enormous pleasure and pride in his career as a member of the Military in service to Canada, especially as a member of the RCEME Corps.
Ernie was born in Vancouver and graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in electrical engineering and married Tina in 1951. He joined the Corps of Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME) and began a busy military career; a life of service and dedication he shared with his wife and family.
He was posted frequently in the early years in various staff and field assignments in Canada including intensive studies in the latest technologies: RADAR in Kingston, Guided Weapons in Huntsville Alabama, and Fire Control systems at the Military College of Science in Shrivenham UK. His career also included 2 years at Staff College in Kingston and a year as commander of the UN Workshop at Camp Rafah in 1966, where he had to close the camp just before the Seven Days war. Returning home, he attended National Defense College in 1969 before a posting to Mobile Command in St. Hubert. After an intense course in French, Ernie was promoted to Brigadier General and assumed the position of Director General Land Engineering and Maintenance at NDHQ. In 1979 he was promoted to Major General and assumed the position of the Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of Defense (Materiel).
Throughout his career, his Corps remained extremely important to him; he was dedicated to ensure that RCEME officers had the technical knowledge to lead and provide strategic direction and he worked to ensure that RCEME remained a separate entity with the Army.
In 1982 he was awarded the Officer of Order of Honour, PEO. In the same year, Ernie received the Commander of Military Merit for outstanding service to his country and retired from the Armed Forces.
He immediately went to work for Bristol Aerospace and was the founding president of the Canadian office of SAIC in 1986 before moving to Intercon Consulting Inc. in 1996. Retirement included positions on the Board of the Royal Ottawa Golf Club and as President of the Rideau Club.
Ernie lived a life exemplified by honesty, hard work, gentle humour and love of family. Tina and Ernie shared a life of happiness. Leisure time was spent fixing and building things, including a boat (which featured in many family outings), cross country skiing, swimming, Scuba diving and, his favourite, looking after the family cars. Golf became a great passion in retirement and he and Tina spent many wonderful years golfing and travelling. He always enjoyed classical music, especially cello pieces with Sunday family dinners including a rotation of favourite records on the phonograph. The RCEME Corps remained close to his heart and the new flag, presented to him at the 75th Anniversary of the Corps flew proudly at his home.
He was much admired by his many friends and associates and adored by his family. Ernie will be greatly missed.
Much appreciation is owed to the Palliative Care Teams at Montfort Hospital and the Home and Community Care services and all the caregivers who looked after him so well.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ernie’s name to the RCEME Foundation (https://rcemefoundation.org/donations) or the UN Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund (https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/unhcr/campaign/ukraine-emergency) or to the Order of St. George (https://orderstgeorge.ca/programs)
The family will receive friends at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services (280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa), on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. until the time of Funeral Service at 2 pm. in Beechwood’s Sacred space, followed by a Military interment at the National Memorial Cemetery.
Digital Guestbook
Marilyn Brulhart
LCol (Ret'd) Bob Vincent. President RCEME LAD 104
I first met Men Creber when I was an Officer Cadet and he was Chief Instructor at the RCEME School. His commitment to the Corps and technical excellence influenced me to this day. He was a member of LAD 104 and will be remembered by those of us who served with him.
Col (Retd) Tom Temple RCEME Col Commandant
I first met Ernie casually around 23 years ago, and had more interaction with him over the last 10. Our conversations were always inciteful, and his passion for the Corps was unbounded. We will all miss him
Christina Cameron and Hugh Winsor
We have wonderful memories of shared moments in Salzburg, Vienna and Prague enjoying opera and other musical events with Ernie and Tina. What a warm generous man (who fixed my camera and shared his photos with me.) Our condolences to Tina and the family.
Meriel Beament Bradford
Dear Tina and Creber family,
Jim and I send you our most sincere condolences on the occasion of Ernie’s death. What a wonderful life of service and support to Canada, his family and his community. I had the pleasure of serving on the Rideau Club Board with Ernie and we enjoyed many happy occasions in the company of Tina and Ernie.
May he Rest In Peace.
Collette & Vaughn Smith
Our sincere condolences to Tina and the entire Creber family. A wonderful tribute to a great man! Thinking if you all.
LCol (Retd) Ray Wong
Knowing that he was my cousin Ernie’s father-in-law, I made a special effort to reach out to reach out and meet Gen Creber at a Mess Dinner several years ago. He was such a true gentleman and so endearing. Since then I always made it a point to meet up with him and catch up on family news at subsequent Mess Dinners. I certainly knew from those moments the importance he placed on family and the Corps. Chatting with him was always a highlight at those dinners. I will certainly miss him.
BGen (Ret'd) Peter Holt, HCol 33 Svc Bn
Shirley and I have two generations worth of memories of Ernie, as both of our fathers served with him at the RCEME School in Kingston in the late 1960's. Always a gentleman, he took an interest in my career long after he retired, and was happy to provide me timely advice. His wisdom and kindness, as well as his great pride in the men and women of the RCEME Corps, will be greatly missed. Tina, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you mourn the passing of this wonderful man.
In the 1960s as a high…
In the 1960s as a high school student, I went on a Scout canoe trip with Ernie by train to Algonquin Park. It turned out that the black fly season was early that year and we had arrived in the middle of it. One of my fellow scouts had forgotten to bring insect repellant. His eye lids began to swell up from all the bites. Ernie hiked across country with him by map and compass, flagged down a freight train and when my friend arrived at the Civic Hospital in Ottawa he was eventually told that if he had been any slower he might have gone blind. In 1980 to my surprise I saw Ernie at an archaeological site on the Mediterranean when he was a UN peace keeper. I feel very proud th have had Ernie and Tina as friends. Ernie was the real deal!
Mike Pennell
We lived near the Creber family in St. Hilaire, Quebec. Mrs. Creber was my high school English teacher, Cathy was a classmate. Our deepest condolences to the entire family.
What a wonderful tribute! We'd all love to hear a story or two in choir about your amazing Dad, Michael! All the best of memories and love to the whole family xo Marilyn