Charles William Grierson

Charles passed away peacefully during his afternoon nap with Marjorie, his wife of almost 72 years, literally by his side. Prairie born, this wise and gentle man entered the world in Winnipeg, Manitoba in the early years of the Great Depression. The fourth and youngest child of Scottish parents, Andrew Inglis Grierson and Chrissy Bonthron (Patrick) Grierson, he was 20 years old and still in university when his father died.

Charles received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Manitoba in 1954. He and Marjorie Catherine Collins were married on May 15th of that year, and they started their new life together in Toronto, Ontario with Charles working as a systems analyst for Canadian General Electric.

Two energetic children, David and Maureen (Jones), were born to this busy couple in the Toronto years. In 1959, when Charles decided to return to school to study hospital administration at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis), all four Griersons hopped into a Volkswagen Bug and moved to the Twin Cities. Charles served his residency in Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee and received his Master of Hospital Administration in 1961. Soon after the family returned to Winnipeg, a third child, Peter, was welcomed to Team Grierson.

Charles’s extensive 32-year career in health covered administrative positions with the Manitoba Hospital Association, Brandon General Hospital, Swedish American Hospital (Rockford, Illinois), British Columbia Health Association, British Columbia Cancer Institute, Greater Vancouver Regional District, and St. Vincent's Hospital (Vancouver). He spent his last decade in this field as president of the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, also operating Pearson Hospital. As part of BC Health, he was given the Distinguished Service Award.

Charles was a baptized believer and served his Lord in each and every community he lived. A member of the choir, Sunday School teacher, church treasurer, chair of the Board of Deacons, promoting Men's Ministry, his roles were many and often overlapping. He also served on the Board of the Baptist Union of Western Canada as its BC representative in 1992.

An avid curler for many years and lifelong sports fan, Charles enjoyed sports of all kinds. He was also a self-proclaimed "news junkie" and remained current on politics and international events until the day he died. He sang first tenor and was a Life Member of the Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir, travelling with them to Holland, Germany, Russia and Great Britain. He always said the greatest highlights of this time were the fine friends he made and the joy of singing with them at Royal Albert Hall in London, England in 2000.

Charles was totally surrendered to Jesus Christ, and he upheld Christian principles as husband, father, grandfather and friend. Predeceased by his parents, his three siblings (Andrew, Alex and Agnes) and his eldest son, David, he will be greatly missed by his loving family including seven grandchildren, five great granddaughters, and nieces and nephews across Canada, as well as his cherished long-time friends, and the residents and staff of The Emerald at Elim Village in Surrey, British Columbia.

'JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith.' - Hebrews 12:2