Died suddenly from an arterial embolism March 11 in hospital on Saltspring Island. J.D., an irrepressible wheeler-dealer with a booming voice, never met an argument he didn’t like. John was a longtime horse breeder and owner who knew nearly everyone involved in equestrian activities in British Columbia. Born in Vancouver on June 17, 1927, he met and married Dorinne in Calgary in 1952-53. In the early days they hit the road across Canada, selling encyclopedias to everyone from millionaire entrepreneurs to dirt-poor farmers. The family spent 1961-64 working in Australia. John passed the Canadian Securities Course in 1968 and for many years was a fixture on the Howe Street investment scene. He is survived by Dorinne, daughters Laurie (David) and Lynne (Mark), grandchildren Robert (Doris) and Patricia, great-grandchildren Lance and Maximo, brothers Robin and Pat and sister Rosalyn. As per John’s wishes there will be no formal funeral service. Please raise a glass of your favourite libation in his memory and if you see fit, donations to the SPCA Biscuit Fund would be greatly appreciated. Special thanks to the staff at Lady Minto hospital, especially Dr. David Woodley and Dr. Jan MacPhail and all the nurses and paramedics.

Arrangements by Hayward’s funeral home.

250-537-1022.

March 8, 1922 ~ March 10, 2010

Ellen was born at Cape Scott, BC and lived a pioneer life with her parents, three sisters and two brothers. Tragedy struck the family in 1938 with the loss of her two brothers, only to be followed closely by the death of her mother. In spite of the hardships, Ellen had fond memories growing up in the wilderness, which kindled a lifelong love of animals. In 1942, the family moved to Nanoose Bay where Ellen met her husband Carl. They were married in 1944. Ellen and Carl raised their children Linda, Dale, Camellia and Ernest as well as numerous foster children in Nanoose Bay and were active members in the community. After retiring in 1974, Ellen and Carl moved to Salt Spring. Together they volunteered for Seniors for Seniors, Meals on Wheels and other groups. Carl passed away in 1980. Ellen continued helping with the Seniors for Seniors luncheons for many years.

Declining health meant Ellen needed the care that Greenwoods provides. She resided at Greenwoods for 5½ years, where she was known for her love of chocolate and coffee. Ellen passed away peacefully at Greenwoods on March 10 and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Thank you to the staff at Greenwoods, Dr. MacPhail and the Hospice Volunteers. No service by request.

Born Nov. 19, 1924

Reg died peacefully on March 10, 2010 at Lady Minto Hospital. Reg was born in Southampton, U.K. into a family of builders. Reg served in the second World War as able seaman on ‘The Phoebe’, participating in the Burma Campaign for 3 years.

Reg came to Salt Spring in 1981. He worked as a carpenter and was active at the Legion, the Golf Club, bowling and as a member of Croften Brook board of directors.

Sadly missed by his wife Vanda, many children and grandchildren and his snooker buddies at the Legion.

There will be no service at Reg’s request. The whole family wishes to thank the nursing staff at Lady Minto, particularly Susie, who showed special kindness to Reg.

Pamela Margaret Mowbray (formerly Thomas, née Lynch) born in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 1, 1932, passed away peacefully in Port Moody on Mar. 1, 2010. Predeceased in 2002 by her husband and best friend for almost 50 years, Steve Thomas. Dearly loved and survived by her second husband Wilf Mowbray; her four beloved children Sandra Sellick, Stephen Thomas, Colleen Mudry-Ross, and Carolyn Bond; and their spouses Roger, Lydia, Hal, and Russell. Pam was the proud nana of five grandchildren: Steven, Erin, Natasha, Genevieve, and Stephenie. She enjoyed a close relationship with her niece, Linda. She is also survived by Wilf’s children, Susan and Chris.

From 1951 to 1953, Pam worked for the Treasury Department of the Fijian government in Suva. She arrived in Vancouver aboard the “SS Orsova” in 1955 and started work in the Marine Building. She married Steve in 1956 and together they raised their four children. In the early 1980s, Pam returned to school and went on to work in the administration office at Brentwood Mall and later for the Burnaby Public Library.

Residents of Burnaby for over 30 years, Pam and Steve retired to Salt Spring Island in 1992 where they built their dream home on Beddis Road and enjoyed the company of their island friends. They were lifetime members of the Salt Spring Island Sailing Club and Pam was a volunteer at Greenwoods. After Steve’s passing, Pam lived in Coquitlam until her marriage to Wilf in 2008. Pam and Wilf lived on the quay in New Westminster overlooking the passing scene on the Fraser River. Always an ardent sports fan, Pam followed the BC Lions, the Vancouver Canucks, and her favourite tennis players. She was a passionate animal lover with a soft spot for elephants, cats, and bears. Pam was a long-time member of the Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals, an avid reader, and an ace Scrabble player. Beautiful music and flowers added much pleasure to her life. In 2007 she co-authored a memoir, “Remembering a Kensington Childhood”. Pam will be forever loved and missed.

The family would like to express much gratitude to Pam’s physicians and to the staff and volunteers at the Crossroads Hospice in Port Moody. At Pam’s request, there will be no service. Friends wishing to remember Pam with a gesture of kindness may consider a donation to the Crossroads Hospice Society.

July 8, 1951 – February 28, 2010

After a long battle with cancer, Dale Ostapowich passed peace-fully at Lady Minto Hospital on Sunday, February 28, 2010. Dale was born in Russell, Manitoba, the only child of Lena and Mike Ostapowich. His early earthworks with childhood Tonka toys on a Manitoba farm became a lifelong vocation as a civil engineer, taking Dale to Alberta, northern B.C., the Yukon and ultimately to the west coast. Along the way he was joined by wife Glynnis and then son Kevin. They settled on Salt Spring in 1993, where Dale enjoyed his other passions of boating, fishing and golf along with his continued engineering work.

An informal memorial will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic church in Ganges on Saturday March 27, 2010 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Dale asked that donations be made to the Lady Minto Hospital foundation or to the B.C. Cancer Society.

His family is grateful beyond words to Dr. David Woodley, the staff of Lady Minto Hospital and the Bessy Dane Hospice for their wonderful care and support in Dale’s final days.

1910 – 2010

Passed away peacefully at Greenwoods on Feb. 24, 2010 just 5 days before her 100th birthday. Born to Louise S. Davis, noted educator, and Albert B. Davis, engineer, in New Orleans. Carrie Louise met Cyril Cunningham from Victoria, her future husband, when he was working for her uncle and training to be an entomologist in New Orleans. Carrie Louise and Cyril moved to Canada when she was 19 years of age. They were married for 63 years. The couple retired in 1965 on Salt Spring along with other members of her bridge club, who were looking for adventure. Carrie Louse was a treasurer for the North Vancouver School’s band and the North Shore Victorian Order of Nurses during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Carrie Louise was known for her wit and Salt Spring bridge tournaments. Mourned by her son, Allen (Maxine), nephews Gary (Ernell) and Allen Jr., nieces Jerie-Lynn (Mike) and Peggy (Ray) and friends and Greenwoods’ staff. Special thanks to Greenwoods for the many years of wonderful care and thoughtfulness both at the daycare level and in permanent residence. Their dedicated staff and caring personnel made her life trulty worthwhile during her later years. A celebration of her life, New Orleans style, was held at home. A graveside service for family is planned.

Bud Morton passed away peacefully at the Moog and Friends Hospice House, Penticton, BC on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Born in Ladysmith, BC in 1928, he lived for many years in North Vancouver, Victoria and Salt Spring Island before moving to Penticton in 2000. He was a professional salesman all his life and loved it. He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 59 years, Rita (Ricky); daughter, Sharon of Foxboro, On.; granddaughter, Amberlee of Toronto and Lorna & Andy of Berkshire, England; sister-in-law, Dolores MacDonald of Penticton; brother-in-law, Norman (Ruth) of Seattle Wa.; good friends of 55 years, Vic & Day Gadsby and family of Penticton, Iona Larson of Victoria and his many friends on Salt Spring Island. Our grateful thanks to Dr. Kennedy, Colleen and the angels of Moog House for their care and kindness. No service by request. A memorial at a later date will be held on Salt Spring Island.

On February 22, I lost my beloved husband, Bill, after his brave struggle with cancer. He was a much loved brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend. Bill was born on August 14, 1936, in Dauphin, Manitoba, the second youngest of eight, to William and Christina. They came from Ukraine in 1925; this heritage was always important to him. His first memories were of farm life. In 1941, the family moved to Hamilton, Ontario. In 1945, they came to Victoria where the older siblings stayed after the family returned to Hamilton in 1950. In 1954, Bill joined the army (RCEME) where he trained and worked as a gun mechanic, often on tanks, which interested him for the rest of his life. He was a proud Canadian and enjoyed the army, especially two years in Germany, and the opportunity to train in sports – he was very good at track and field.

In 1960, Bill left the military, returned to Victoria, and completed high school while working a night job. He always loved learning, so he carried on to the University of Victoria, where we met. After our marriage in 1968, we moved to Kingston, where Bill completed an MSc at Queen’s University on a scholarship. In 1971, we returned to visit the family farm on Prevost Island and stayed for seven years. This was a happy time for us, living in a small log cabin by the sea. Bill worked very hard on the farm and tackled any job – he was thorough in everything he did, always achieving the best he could. He was like a son to our father, Hubert. Then followed six years in Port Alberni where Bill became the production manager of a large salmon farm; this was a pioneering time in aquaculture to which he was pleased to contribute. In 1984, we again returned to Prevost; Bill loved the farm, the land, and the animals, with which he was patient and caring. He made beautiful fences of expertly split cedar posts, kept machinery running, and could solve many problems through innovation. He cared lovingly for our late mother, Jean. Bill had many interests: history, languages, science, world events, music, and bird watching; he always looked forward to learning new things. He was kind, generous, fair and just, a vital and welcoming person who was always ready to help others and to share his knowledge. Bill was an exceptional man and we were blessed with many happy years. He will forever live in our hearts.

Predeceased by brothers Nicholas, Steven, and Lloyd, sister Lena Dorosh, three nieces and a nephew, and sister-in-law Maureen de Burgh, Bill is survived by his dear wife Sheila, brother Michael, sisters Ann (Jim) Fortune, Jean (John) Abernathy, sisters-in-law Barbara and Susan de Burgh, nieces and nephews and their families, and many friends.

I would like to thank our family and the many friends who have helped me get through the past two months. Thank you also to David, Mark, Paul, Ben, Harold, Diana, Brad, Garth, Mike, Lew, Lori and Katie for all they have done on Prevost.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints By the Sea, Ganges, Salt Spring Island at 2 pm March 21 followed by a reception. If desired, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to: The William Wowchuk Memorial Scholarship, Department of Biology, University of Victoria (http://web.uvic.ca/givingtouvic/givenow/online_login.php or phone 250-472-4210 UVic Development Office). This graduate scholarship honours Bill’s lifetime interest in cell biology.