September 15, 1925 - February 11, 2022
In Loving Memory ~
Jim (Dad) is survived by loving wife of 72 years, Edna, daughters Angela (Chuck) and Jennifer (John), grandchildren Jason, Phillip, Wesley, Kimberley, and great grandchildren Robyn, Levi, Reese and James, and several nieces and nephews.
Jim was born in Bombay, India. He attended Bishop Cotton boys boarding school in Simla, at the foot of the Himalayan mountains. After completing an engineering degree, Jim was employed with British Iron and Steel Assoc. as an engineer.
In London, England in 1950 he met Edna deVille, at a Valentine's dance. They danced the night away and were married 6 months later. He found that Edna was willing to pursue his dream of a life in Canada, and they emigrated, by ship in 1954 settling first in Port Arthur ON, then relocating to BC in 1969. Daughters Angela and Jennifer completed the family.
A move to a 35 acre farm in Langley was a huge family adventure, with cows, horses and chickens to keep everyone busy!
During this time, Dad started his own construction management company, based from home, and worked on several notable projects around BC. However, Dad's real passion was people. He was an active Rotarian for more than 40 years, earned 4 Paul Harris Fellow awards for his service and involving himself in their many programs notably the youth exchange program, and a business leaders program when he spent 6 weeks in India, touring businesses in several regions.
With the daughters grown, they sold the farm and moved to Abbotsford, where Jim was on the BC Parole Board for several years and worked as a small business advisor for the Business Development Bank.
He then worked as an instructor in the business program at Fraser Valley College (now University of the Fraser Valley) until they fully retired to the Sunshine Coast. There, he was involved with the St. Bart's Anglican Church building project, spearheading fundraising and management of the construction.
During their ten years in Gibsons Jim and Edna travelled a lot, Jim organized many trips with international Rotary friends, and they cruised several times, twice taking the whole family with them. Mom and Dad moved to Langley in 2014 to enjoy life at Avalon Gardens retirement community where they had family and friends around them. He was a prolific painter in all mediums, he enjoyed his computer and stayed in contact with many friends by email.
He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He loved his family above all else and was loving and supportive in all our endeavours.