Mr. John Sheldon Webb

“Seeing is believing.” For many, those words simply represent a motto. But for Mr. John Sheldon Webb, it summarized in every way who he was. He was modest, quiet and observant, taking in everything around him and always thinking before acting. He was a realist, someone who was efficient and practical in everything he did. He was a friendly person who truly cared about those around him.

       He was the son of Arnold and Dorothy Webb. Raised in England, he was brought up to be tolerant and trustworthy. As a child, he learned to be conscientious, responsible and punctual. These were all traits that he would carry with him throughout his life.

      Growing up, John was one of those children who didn't’t need to be in the center of a whirlwind of activity. He was content to entertain himself. John was never pushy when it came to games and other activities, but rather, he was able to enjoy the pure fun these could bring. In just about everything he did as a child, John was intent on pleasing both the adults and the other children around him. John took part in a number of activities as a child. He took part in Rugby and Soccer. In his spare time he liked Carpentry, Arts and Crafts, and Photography. John's memorable achievements included he excelled in language arts.

      John enjoyed learning. He always had a great memory and was particularly skilled at retaining factual information. John was generally quiet in class, learning best through observation. He often showed great concentration and was competent at completing the tasks at hand. Good with details, John was painstaking and accurate in his efforts. All of these talents culminated in a successful high school career. He graduated from English Boys School in 1938. John enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Industrial Arts.

      John had a good disposition for the challenges of college. He always enjoyed reading, so all of those lengthy required reading assignments seemed to be less of a burden for him. In fact, John seemed to absorb and remember everything he read. Not all things came easily to John, however, and he found success by being a diligent and accurate person who would dig into a project and work through until it reached its completion. He was very thorough and labored long and hard in order to reach his goals. He earned his degree in industrial arts.

      Most folks would say that John was shy until they got to know him. Those who were privileged to know him well learned that he was a solid, good friend. John was reluctant to generalize about people, and he based his friendships on his personal experiences. Because of this, John best trusted those people that he truly knew. He was concerned about how those around him felt, and he always seemed to uncover the positive side of people. He could relate to others and had the ability to see their point of view, to “walk a mile in their shoes,” as the saying goes. The friends that he made, John kept. Later in life, he became friends with Percy Speed and Ted Henderson.

      Love can’t be defined but must be experienced. That was so true for John. He was totally committed to Jean and maintained traditional ideals about marriage. It was as if John naturally sensed his spouse’s needs, and accepted those feelings unconditionally. Although John disliked conflict, he did not take flight from discord, but rather sought to preserve harmony even during the most trying times.

      John was a good father to his children. He had “old fashioned” parental values and could handle typical family conflicts in a fair and calm manner. Because he trusted emotions, John was reluctant to force issues and used gentle persuasion to resolve situations. In this way he seemed to radiate an aura of warmth and caring to those around him, always thinking before acting. In addition, John was a master planner. No matter how hectic life around him might be, he seemed to know and track everyone’s schedule. John was blessed with five children, Sheldon, Marion, Judy, Joan and David. They were also blessed with nine grandchildren, Sheri, Jeffery, Ryan, David, Suzanne, Paul, Michael, Jamie and Ashley.

      If you gave John a deadline, he would meet it. At work, John was always on task. Without hesitation, John could adhere to any assignment and see it through to its completion. His primary occupation was as superintendent. He was employed for 36 Years by Sask. Power district. During that time, John excelled in working with small groups in order to complete assignments. He was able to quickly grasp concrete ideas and could organize and plan the best way to accomplish things with remarkable consistency. John was good at staying on track and was considerate in listening to what others had to say. In this way, John had at true gift for being able to come up with practical resolutions to difficult problems. He was often the team member who managed to put forth a win/win solution for all parties.

      John was an air force veteran (R. A. F.). He seemed to thrive on the routines offered up by the military. Being a literal thinker with a calm exterior helped him handle the rigors of the military. He was stationed in Germany and Africa. John saw action during WWII. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Flight Engineer.

      John liked to experience things first hand, in addition to simply learning about them. This quality influenced John's choice of leisure time activities. A methodical and patient worker, John preferred to set aside uninterrupted time to work on his hobbies. His favorite pursuits were photography, carpentry and music. John was content to sit quietly alone, enjoying his hobbies all by himself and could often be found just reading about his favorite pastimes.

      While thorough and measured in his approach to things, John often liked to physically do things rather than just think about them. He was like that with sports. In high school, John played rugby and soccer. Recreational sports included curling, water skiing, fishing, in the gym, walking and Golf. He also enjoyed the statistical data and the facts behind the sports. In this way, he was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were CFL football and NHL hockey.

      Due to his excellent organizational skills, John was a welcome addition to the professional and community organizations to which he belonged. John could bring established, successful methods to the discussion table, along with a generous helping of common sense. John was good at making and keeping schedules and never got bogged down in unnecessary details. Throughout his later years, John was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners.

      John was active in the community. He was practical and grounded and based his decisions on first hand experience. He was responsible and liked working to achieve results rather than just chattering about possibilities. John was a member of several community groups, serving on committees for the Kindersley Figure Skating Club.

      An individual who respected and maintained traditional values, his faith was important to John. His compassion, consideration and sympathy toward others was evident in his personal beliefs. He was a member of the United Church.

      Anyone who traveled or went on vacation with John had smooth sailing. It was often taken for granted that he was the trip planner. He would start early and examine all of the possibilities, selecting the best and most effective options. Favorite vacations included England (Europe in general), Tenerife, Portugal and Phoenix.

      John had Dogs. Blackie, Hunter and Skipper. His family was rounded out by his Siamese Cat. John was as loyal to his pets as they were to him.

      When John's retirement finally arrived in 1982, he was well prepared. He had taken the time to learn about his various options and chose his course wisely. His new life involved relocating to Vancouver Island. In retirement, he found new pleasure in Photography, Travel and Golf. Even in retirement, John continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in the community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

      John passed away on February 8, 2010 at St. Joseph's General Hospital, Comox, BC. Cardiac Arrest. He is survived by his children, Sheldon, Marion, Judy, Joan and David. Services were held at Piercy's - Mt. Washington Funeral Home. John was laid to rest in Royal Oak Cemetery in Victoria, BC.

      It is said that some people can’t see the forest for the trees. John was able to focus on each individual tree, tending to its needs, thus making the forest stronger as a whole. John was a trustworthy, pragmatic and sympathetic person, the kind of man to whom everyone was drawn. He was thorough and practical. John Webb was very literal with his words. You always knew where you stood with John. He will be missed.