HAMILTON, Douglas M.
July 3, 1924 – January 23, 2016
Doug – “I have had a good life and a wonderful family!”
Dad passed away peacefully at Astoria Suites in Origins at Longwood in Nanaimo. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 64 years Beryl, family Murray and Isabella, Roy and Sharon, Carol and John, Bev and Nick; grandchildren Cory and Kim, Bob, Robert, Shylah and Dan, Emily and Sean, Sydney and Luuk, Samantha, Jackson; great-grandchildren Aiden, Bria, and Max.
Dad was born in Cloverdale and grew up in New Westminster. He served in WW II. He met Mom in 1946 while attending UBC where he graduated with a BSc in Agriculture. They married July 28, 1951. He worked as manager for B&K Milling in Langley, and for the Ministry of Agriculture as a District Agriculturalist in Salmon Arm and Nanaimo. He was very involved with helping others, especially youth and 4H. In 1963 he returned to UBC and received his Master’s Degree in Poultry Sciences. In 1966 the family moved to Abbotsford and for the next 20 years Dad was a Poultry Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Dad served 10 years with the Abbotsford School Board and while there chaired a research group for a college in the Fraser Valley. Fraser Valley College was created in 1974, and he was elected the first chairman, which he served as for 5 years. In June 2014, on the 40th anniversary of the University of the Fraser Valley, Dad received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university he helped found.
Upon retirement at age 63, Mom and Dad moved to Parksville where they enjoyed a long and happy retirement. He was always the first person to offer to help anyone, and was a great storyteller.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Astoria and Origins for the wonderful love and care they provide for Dad and Mom and the family.
A Service of Remembrance and Celebration will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, 1 pm at Brechin United Church, 1998 Estevan Road, Nanaimo.