George Snowdon

It is with deep sorrow that his family share the news of the death of George Snowdon. George died at the age of ninety-six in Kelowna.

George was born in Blyth, Northumberland, the only child of Henry and Marguerite (Wilson) Snowdon. George attended Blyth Grammar School, enjoyed the coastal pursuits of Blyth as well as cycling around his beloved county and beyond to England, Wales, Scotland and France with friends or solo as he became a young man. George was a natural outdoorsman.

At the age of eighteen George was accepted to the University of Newcastle and graduated as a Modern Languages teacher in 1952. He soon left for Madrid where he taught English and finessed his Spanish before returning to England to marry his school sweetheart June Allen in 1954. The couple honeymooned around Northumberland on a tandem bike!

In 1956 George, June and their firstborn son set sail from Liverpool to Montreal and from there continued to British Columbia by train with George beginning his teaching career and Canadian life in Smithers, BC.

Another son and a daughter were born to the couple during their time in Kitimat. In 1964 the Snowdons returned to Northumberland with George teaching in Hayden Bridge, and in 1966 the family decided again on Canada, choosing Kelowna, where their fourth child would be born.

George loved languages and his chosen profession, teaching at Rutland High School for a decade before transferring to George Elliot High School in Winfield, where, hands on, he took part in the construction of the family’s new home. Summer holidays were spent camping throughout BC and Alberta if not at an Okanagan beach, most notably Kaloya in Oyama.

George and June divorced in 1981, remaining lifelong friends.

All his life George had a project on the go and was rarely idle. Wherever he lived he had a lush garden growing fruit and vegetables. He baked his own bread, made his own yoghurt and filled the sheds with demijohns of homemade wine.

As well as loving the land, George greatly enjoyed being on the water; all of his children share stories of exploits with their dad either fishing, windsurfing or attempting to sail. George built his own Sabot sailboat, and helped build Optimists for the fledging sailing club in Carrs Landing.

After George took an early retirement for health reasons, he continued his passion pursuits and stayed an active member of his community. He attended aerobics classes, wrote a weekly column, “By George” for the Winfield Calendar and joined the Neighbour Watch night patrol. In later years he returned to amateur acting, performing regularly with Shakespeare Kelowna, with the Kelowna Players in "Guys and Dolls" and "Peter Pan" and had a memorable background role as a zombie in the locally filmed "Fido". He continued to travel and learn languages and could quote anything Latin, Shakespeare or Robbie Burns at the drop of a hat. George had a competitive spirit and relished in playing chess and backgammon, preferably with a worthy opponent!

George was an animal lover, sharing his home with many remarkable cats and dogs throughout his years.

To say George was generous would be an understatement. Kith and kin were very important to him. An adventurous, intelligent and compassionate man, he lived a full life with great good humour, both a proud Geordie and Canadian to his last day.

He died peacefully and courageously, as he lived, with three of his children by his side.

George will be sorely missed by his children (Andrew) Allen, (George) Eric, Heather and Wendy, by grandchildren George Andreas (Andrew) and Georgina and great-grandchildren Ellegra Belle, George and Owen. He was predeceased by June and grandson Kyle.

There will be no service, as was George’s request.

Donations may be made in his honour to the KGH Foundation or BCSPCA.