Herbert Leslie “Bert” Timbers
May 11, 1920 – July 13, 2014
Bert Timbers was born in Winnipeg in the spring of 1920 as the ice was breaking up on the Red River. As a handsome young man he won the heart of a beautiful girl, Ellen Butler. They married and had their first daughter Bonnie.
Bert signed up for the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II, and he served in the position of wireless air gunner. He came back to his family in broken health, but with a characteristic determination that he would rebuild. He bought the Esso gas station on Princess Avenue at Pacific, and built the thriving Bert Timbers Service Station Ltd. Three more children followed, Gail, Bob, and Glen, and the family has wonderful memories of the cabin at Lac Lu, waterskiing behind the Lady of the Lake, back yard skating rinks, marching bands, and cross country road trips. Bert would often laugh as he would look at pictures of the young family, “We thought we had it just about perfect!”
In 1964 Bert and Ellen begin a new phase of their lives and moved to Salt Spring Island, BC. They bought an old farmhouse on 23 acres on the shores of Booth Canal and ran cows, pigs, sheep, guinea fowl and horses. He became a realtor on the island and continued his long commitment to community. Bert was a member of the Freemasons, Shrine, Rotary and Lions Club. He drove the “Cancer Van” transporting people needing cancer treatment well into his seventies.
Square dancing and being silver smiths were joyful occupations for both Bert and Ellen. In the last years of his life he missed Ellen sorely but received compassionate and kind care from the staff at Nanaimo Senior Village. Bert was predeceased by Ellen and his second daughter Gail, but is lovingly remembered by his surviving children Bonnie, Bob and Glen and their families.
Family brought great joy to Bert all his days and he is held dear in the hearts of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Condolences may be offered at telfordn@shaw.ca