Rod was a Maple Ridge boy, born into a BC Telephone Company family in 1936. He spent his earliest years living in the telephone office in Hammond, where his parents worked. Even then, adventure beckoned to him. He fished in the river with his grandpa, which was good, and played on top of the box cars parked at the Hammond Mill, which wasn’t so good. Later, he joined the Rover Scouts, and fed his adventurous spirit with hiking in Golden Ears Park, swimming in Alouette Lake (in November), and even climbing to the top of the Golden Ears.
After high school, he worked as a cable splicer for BC Tel until adventure called again. He bought himself a “Big Harley” and became the bane of the local constabulary, then decided to sail off to Australia. The motorcycle went with him, and he spent the next five years alternately working and playing all over Australia and New Zealand. That time of his life gave him many precious memories, which he was always willing to share.
Back in Canada, he met Lynn (on a blind date), and they married on September 11th, 1965. The day after the wedding, they loaded the car and headed for San Francisco, where he enrolled in the Mortuary College. He worked in the funeral industry in Edmonds, Washington, Vancouver, and Maple Ridge, during which time he became the proud papa of three daughters—Joan, born in 1967, Kristan, in 1970, and Karen, in 1971.
In the late 70’s, he changed professions and became an industrial first aid attendant at the Hammond Cedar mill.
With a young family to consider, his adventures became a little tamer—mainly camping and road trips. When the girls left home, he decided he liked sailing as well, cruising with Lynn to a number of different destinations. The road trips also became a little longer—across Canada in 1999, to California numerous times, and two years ago, to Alaska. In 2011, he and Lynn flew to Ireland, also touching base in Scotland, England and Wales. His last trip, in his snazzy little motor home, was to a family reunion in Manitoba.
His final, and most precious adventure, began on June 8th, 2018, the day before his 82nd birthday. On that day, he went to meet his Lord.
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