George Whitford
April 11 1921 ~ Dec 21st 2015
George was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England to Joel and Ada (both deceased), the third in a family of eleven, He left school at the age of fourteen and worked as an errand boy, a gardeners boy , a mill hand and in a brickworks. As a member of the Territorials he was mobilized on Sept, 1st 1938 and served in the Royal Artillery on anti-aircraft guns during the Battle of Britain; went to defend Gibralta and subsequently volunteered for the Commandos. He served in Italy, Greece and Macedonia, before being wounded in the Battle of Lake Commacchio. After his Army discharge he and his father and brothers ran a demolition business, until they were shut down by the Government, He rejoined the Army in 1949 and there met his future wife, Margaret, and they married in 1950.
In 1953 George and Margaret and their son James emigrated to Canada and went up to the Peace River country where George worked for the D.O.H on the bridge crew. Here he became a Candidate for the Ministry of the United Church of Canada. He graduated from the University of Alberta in 1962 and served churches in McLennan, Busby, Mannville. Calgary and Vancouver East until retirement to Parksville in 1981.
George was a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Legion and was active in the Kiwanis and Big Brothers; his main ministry was to alcoholics and addicts and people in trouble. He loved life and lived it to the full; played soccer, golf, tennis, snooker, swam and biked - riding across Canada twice and from North to South of Australia.
He leaves four sons; James, Philip - (Darlene), Marty - (Lisa), Guy - (Catherine), seven grand children; Nathan, Jesse, Brody, Joel, Sarah-Ellen, Sabrina and Felix, and three great grand children; Isla, Summer and Trexton.
He was predeceased by his beloved daughter Laura in 1978. His main hobby in retirement was wood carving. In 1987 he and Margaret became members of a nudist community in California, where they spent time every winter.
George’s advice on how to live a long life-- learn to adapt.
A Farewell to him will be held in the
Royal Canadian Legion hall in Parksville on Saturday Jan 9th at one p.m.
Come with a light heart and be prepared to sing.