Richard Dennis Sutcliffe

May 17, 1924 - April 12, 2013

Richard was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Lt. Col. John Louis Richard Sutcliffe and his wife Dorothy Kesia Sutcliffe. Richard (Dick) was the second of two children, his sister Joan Sutcliffe the older by 2 years. Joan survives Dick and retired to Chilliwack B.C. after a distinguished career as a Community Health nurse. Their mother died of cancer when Dick was about 12, and their father was killed in Hong Kong serving with the Winnipeg Grenadiers after it fell to the Japanese in late 1941.

Dick joined the RCAF in 1940 and served as a Avro Lancaster bomber pilot in the European conflict during the Second World War. He flew out of Bournemouth England, and was shot down following the Ploesti oil field raids. He was shot down at night, captured, and survived a German prisoner of war camp in Bulgaria, and returned to active duty flying Ferry Command for the remainder of the war. After the war ended Dick flew in a Reserve Squadron patrolling the DEW line with 442 Squadron based on Vancouver Island BC Canada.

Dick moved to Vancouver and studied law at the University of British Columbia for 2 years, driving a taxi in his off time to pay for his education. During this time Dick met and on September 1, 1951 married the love of his life Sheila Mary Sutcliffe (nee Holmes). Dick and his father-in-law Arthur Holmes built the couple's first home in West Vancouver, BC including a hand dug swimming pool. They raised a family of three children, Toby, Wendy and Tim. Dick and Sheila spent many happy years watching their children marry, Toby to Kathy, Wendy to Ron and Tim to Lindsay. They enjoyed watching their children raise families of their own and are the proud grandparents of five grandchildren, Anabelle, Tasha, Candice, Alexander and Harlan. The world was their oyster and they spent their life together sampling all it had to offer. They were inseparable for 64 years, married for 62 great years, forever in love.

Dick's commercial flying career began in 1950 with Canadian Pacific Airlines, and he continued to fly worldwide for them for 33 years. Dick was offered early retirement in 1983 which he happily accepted because Dick and Sheila wanted to pursue their new passion as globetrotting grandparents. They have made many dear friends from Hawaii to California, from Europe to Australia and Dick will be fondly remembered by one and all for the fiercely independent, lovable rogue he was.

"I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love." By Leo Buscaglia