Gordon Lindsay Shufflebotham

11 September 1931 – 01 October 2025

Gordon passed away peacefully of lung cancer Oct. 1, 2025 at the age of 94, under the excellent and loving care of the staff at Central Okanagan Hospice House in Kelowna.

Gordon is survived by his, son Paul (Judy LaCara) of San Jose, California, and daughter Laura Misik (Darren) of Lacombe County, Alberta, numerous nieces and nephews, other relations and friends.

Gordon was predeceased by his loving wife Joyce of 58 years in 2018, by all 6 of his siblings, several other relations and friends.

Gordon was born in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on 11 September 1931, the 5th of 7 children born to William

and Katherine Shufflebotham. Gordon attended primary school in Lloydminster. In February 1942, the family moved to Sardis B.C. where Gordon finished primary school in Sardis, Jr and Sr High School in Chilliwack. He then worked at the Sardis Milk plant for 2 years and, in March 1953, joined the RCAF.

He underwent basic military training at St Jean, Quebec, followed by electronic and communications training at 1R&CS, Clinton, Ont., and then by radar equipment training at RCAF Station Sennetere, Quebec. After this training, Gordon was posted to RCAF Station Holberg, B.C. as a Radar Technician. From there he was posted to RCAF Station, Sydney, Nova Scotia and then to 61 AC&W Squadron, Metz, France, part of Canada's contribution to NATO, in July 1958. Here he was temporarily posted to an RAF Station in England for training on British Radar Systems. While at Metz Gordon met Joyce Schmidt (of Summerland, B.C.), a Radar Operator in the Squadron. She and Gordon were both promoted to Sargeant in April 1959 and were married on 1 April 1960. Joyce took her release from the RCAF in June 1960, and gave birth to son, Paul, in January 1961, and daughter Laura in April 1962. The family returned to Canada in July 1962 when Gordon was posted to the satellite tracking radar facility in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Gordon was promoted to Flight Sargeant in 1963 and in July1965 posted to 1 R&CS, Clinton, Ont., as NCO i/c Radar Equipment training. In 1967, Gordon was commissioned from the ranks with a promotion to Flying Officer in the classification of Technical Telecommunications. He remained at Clinton for Officer Training and then as an instructor for new Tech Tel Officers. In 1968 he was posted to the Radar Squadron at RCAF Station, St Margarets, New Brunswick. His postings from there included, Goose Bay, Labrador; Cold Lake, Alberta; Baldy Hughes (Prince George) B.C., (with a short tour as Commanding Officer, CFS Alert); Winnipeg, Manitoba; DEW Line site Dye on Baffin Island, N.W.T.; CFS Alsask, Saskatchewan; and finally, to the Radar Squadron at CFB Penhold, Alberta. During these postings his work included Operations Officer, System Standards and Training Officer, Telecom Maintenance Officer, Chief Ground Environment Officer, Commanding Officer of a Station and Communication Squadron, and as Military Commander of Dye Sector, DEW Line.

Gordon reached retirement age in 1986 and, after closing out the radar squadron at Penhold, retired to Red Deer, Alberta. After retirement, Gordon was often asked where he had served while in the RCAF. His response was always - “I served in radar and communications squadrons in Canada's provinces and territories and one four-year tour of duty in France. I dipped my feet in all three of Canada's oceans and was as far North and as far south as you can go and stand on dry land – those being Alert on the north end of Ellesmere Island and Point Pelee in Ontario's Lake Ontario”.

After 2 years in Red Deer, he and Joyce moved to Peachland, B.C. where he and Joyce became very much involved in the Peachland Community Policing program and Citizen's Patrol. Gordon also became an instructor for the Neighbourhood Watch program for Peachland and West Bank. Gordon and Joyce moved into a condo in Kelowna in July 2005 where Gordon served as Strata Council president for 8 years. Both he and Joyce were active participants and supporters of all strata functions. After several years of illnesses related to strokes, Joyce passed away in Sept 2018.

As per Gordon's request, he will be cremated, his ashes joined with those of Joyce. There will be no special services or memorials held on his behalf. In memory donations can be made to Central Okanagan Hospice House, Canadian Cancer Society or any charity of choice.