1940 – 2011
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our much loved husband, father and grandfather, Alan on October 30th at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. Alan is survived by his wife, Beverley; children, Norma (Chris) of Kelowna, Ronald of Winnipeg, Donald (Carol) of Kelowna and Matthew (Shelley) of Edmonton, grandchildren Christine, Melanie, Robin, Zachary, Abbigale & Emelia. He is also survived by his brother, Peter of Toronto and David of Kelowna, predeceased by his sister, Pat Bell.
Alan and Beverley moved to Vancouver Island in 1998 from Kelowna where Alan had spent part of his 38 years in the banking industry. He and Beverley moved to Mill Bay where they owned and operated a bed and breakfast for 6 years prior to moving to Parksville where Alan could pursue his passion for sailing.
Alan firmly believed that education would be a major factor in solving some of the world’s current issues and in this regard devoted part of his life to making a contribution. He was a School Trustee in Coquitlam in the 1970’s and then on the Board of Okanagan College for 7 years in Kelowna as well as being a member of the Education Committee for the B.C. Chamber of Commerce. He was instrumental in the development of the University of B.C. Okanagan by being the vice-chair of the building and development committee of this important addition to the Okanagan Valley. Alan was a Senator with the Canada J.C.I. movement as well as being a long time Rotarian. As a member of the Westbank Rotary Club, he took the lead in a project to build the first water wells in several villages in Namibia, Africa.
There will be a celebration of Alan’s life on Friday, November 25th at 1:00 PM at Knox United Church, 345 Pym Street, Parksville. Interment will take place at a later date at the family plot in Winnipeg.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Victoria Heart Institute Foundation, #200 – 1900 Richmond Avenue, Victoria, B.C. V8R 4R2 in Alan’s memory.
The family would like to express their sincerest thanks to the triage team at Nanaimo General Hospital and the doctors and nurses at the Cardiac Care Unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. They are truly special people.