Obituary of Ron Barge

August 27, 1936 – Trail, British Columbia

August 17, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Ron “Buckshot” Barge, beloved husband to the love of his life, Shirley, passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2024, only ten days from his 88th birthday. Ron was surrounded by his loving family and a lot of laughter.

Born in Trail, BC, to his parents, Harvey and Vernie Barge, Ron was always an entertainer at heart. He loved playing music and entertaining his classmates. Coming from a large family who all shared a love for music, Ron was surrounded by the sounds of laughter, storytelling, and melody, whether it was from his parents, his brothers Vern, Myron (Lynne), and Gord (Jody), or his sister Sandra (Gary).

Hoping to move his music career forward, Ron moved to Swift Current, SK, to play music at local venues. Ron was just catching some dinner after playing at the local dance hall when he met Shirley at a little café in the wee hours of the morning while Shirley was waiting to catch a bus. From there, destiny was set in motion.

Ron started his career in television at CJFB-TV in Swift Current, SK, he then moved to Saskatoon to work for CFQC-TV. After flying over the city of Calgary to broadcast a Stamps/Roughriders football game, he decided then and there Calgary was the place for him and Shirley to live. After landing a job with CFCN in 1961 as a cameraman and floor director, his journey took a big turn when station management asked him to host a new children's television show. Thus came the “Buckshot Show”, a mainstay in Calgary for thirty years, the longest-running children's program in Canada at the time of the show's cancellation. His tagline at the end of every show was, “Be good for your mommy or whoever looks after you.”

As an entertainer, Ron also loved playing music and played piano in the house band at the Rimrock Room in the Palliser Hotel and then was the piano/singer with the Stardells at the 400 Club for over twenty years. He cherished the joy of playing right up to his final days.

Ron believed giving back was important. He donated time to causes that mattered to him. For over fifty years he volunteered his time and talents to the Calgary Stampede Kids Day program. He would host telethons for the Children's Hospital and would give his time and energy to any good cause.

Above everything Ron did, his love of family was paramount. Family did not stop at his wife or kids; family was anyone who needed help, a friendly ear to listen to their problems or a child who was sick and needed a pick me up at the Children's Hospital where he would visit and bring Benny the Bear to lift their spirits.

Ron is survived by his four children, Ken (Sherry), Angie, Brenda, and Cindy (Jason); and nine grandchildren, Michael (Jennifer), Trista (Christopher), Darcy (Renee), Garett (Holly), Kyle (Maddie), Emma, Caitlin, Teagan, and Olivia. Ron was blessed with six great-grandchildren, Adelyn, Jackson, Oliver, Henry, Brynley, and Rhett.

Ron had a passion for sports and his most cherished team was the Calgary Flames. The Flames moving to Calgary was so important to Ron, he stood in line the first day and was the 383rd person to purchase two prized season tickets, and never missed a home game. The joy started by being in the Flames zone for warmups to the final buzzer and was so grateful to be able to attend games this past season. Ron also loved to golf and coach any sport where coaches were needed.

Finally, Ron loved life. He loved the city he so supported, he loved his friends, he loved making people laugh, he loved his mountain cottage for over the past fifty-five years, he loved to entertain, he loved his children, he loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but most of all, he loved his wife of sixty-eight years, Shirley. The perfect love story!

A Celebration of Ron’s Life will be held at Centre Street Church - Central Campus (3900 – 2nd Street N.E., Calgary, AB) on Friday, September 20, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. The family kindly requests that you wear your Calgary Flames jersey or shirt to honour Ron’s love of the Calgary Flames. 

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mr. Barge’s service streamed live (see link below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, 28 Oki Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T3B 6A8, Telephone: (403) 955-8818, www.childrenshospital.ab.ca.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Ron’s family here.

In living memory of Ron (Buckshot) Barge, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

Click to Watch the Celebration of Ron "Buckshot" Barge's Life