June 22, 1935 - February 5, 2019
Ken was born to a fierce little woman who had to travel by freight train from Barriere to Kamloops to deliver him. He started his life in a cabin in a place called Chu Chua. Eventually the little family moved, the war came and went and so did his parent's marriage. He was raised by an independent Mom, who survived his years of antics and pyromania, even though the neighbour's barn, along with a few city blocks on Marine Drive in Vancouver did not.
In those days a strapping young man was encouraged to quit school and work for a living. He told many stories of jobs in logging camps, CP Ferries, etc. Finally, having had enough of outdoor work, he visited a career counsellor who told him he needed a desk job. He enrolled in an electronics school with the federal government but moved on to train as an Air Radio Operator. In his twenties he signed up to work at weather stations in the high Arctic. The stories from those days have kept us all entertained for years, many colourful, involving the stupid antics of young men stuck in a remote location. Well, no one wants to stay in the frozen north forever, so he bought a 1962 Jaguar XKE convertible and made a break with a buddy for a Mexican vacation. The sombreros still hang on the wall!
Later, back in Canada, there was a terrible car accident involving two aunts, an uncle, and a cousin. His Aunty Ivy was seriously hurt and transported to the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, where a cute little redheaded nurse who looked after her, ended up being the love of his life. The rest they say is history. Despite getting seafood poisoning on one of their first dates, and not being impressed with the Jaguar, Mom married him anyway in 1964. He was posted as an Air Radio Operator in Prince Rupert in 1965. Kendra was born in 1966, followed by the twins, Marnie and David, in 1968. He was posted to Castlegar in 1973, as the Manager of Flight Services. Together they built their home on the bench with lots of help from great neighbours and friends. Those were the days of block parties and beer strikes! He retired in 1993 and our parents enjoyed home renovations, visits with family, coffee with friends, and trips to Maui, the Canadian East Coast and finally Scotland. He especially enjoyed regaling his grandsons with stories of his youth, life wisdoms and trips in "the man van." He was inflicted with ALS when he was 82 years old and endured this horrible disease with grace and humour right to the very end and was able to die in the home he built.
Dad is survived by his loving wife, Linda, daughter Kendra (Randy) and their boys Scott and Mark, Marnie (Neil) and their boys David and Adam, and son David who was a constant companion and help to our parents. He is also survived by his sister Wendy (Warren) daughters Lisa and Dawn, sister Brenda and daughter Brianna. No service by request. Raise a glass to a life well-lived. "Off in a cloud..."
Castlegar Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements.