Victor James McMullen

In a little rented weavers cottage about 4 miles from Armagh in the North of Ireland, Victor James McMullen was born into the family of Thomas and Amanda McMullen on January 25, 1928, the third of seven siblings. When Victor was 11, the family moved to a house called Elmpark at the outbreak of WW2, and Victor often spoke fondly of their home there. As a boy, Victor was always kind and helpful with a caring instinct that followed him throughout his life. When he was growing up, he made crystal sets and the family was treated to concerts in their hayshed, costing a penny! Walking the 4 miles to school was a daily occurrence for the children, almost unheard of today. Victor recalled their pony Lilly, the sheepdog Diamond that guarded their home and the little Austin 7 that was used at times as the local ambulance for others with no vehicles. His younger siblings looked forward to him babysitting as they would dine on bread and sugar sandwiches. He joined the Boy Scouts and was a patrol leader in the local village group. His son David has followed in his footsteps in that regard, having been involved in Scouts Canada for many years. Victor was also a crack shot in the Beeman Rifle Reserves of Northern Island where he fulfilled his military obligations.

Victor and his brother Cecil were saved at a Methodist Church mission in Killylea when Victor was 17. His sister Maureen has told us that Victor went outside, and, kneeling down in the snow, thanked God for salvation.

After leaving Technical school, Victor found work in an electrics shop and enjoyed those years. He also had a keen interest in sailing and even owned his own sailboat for some time that moored at Lock Neigh. He had many adventures, with stories of near shipwrecks and even won a regatta trophy. He and Cecil joined the Elim Church in Armagh, where he met his first wife Margaret and they were married there around 1950. Together they started their first electrical business in Armagh. They had three boys, Lawrence, Raymond and Trevor who presently live on the Isle of Mann. He maintained a keen interest in them and in their families down through the years, even though he was heartbroken at having to leave them at the end of the marriage.

In 1968, Joyce McCurrie along with her parents, Florrie and Jack, and her son, Ian, spent a year in Ireland. With Victor`s influences and contacts, Joyce was able to obtain a working visa in Ireland thus allowing her original vacation to be greatly extended. During this time a relationship sparked and upon returning to Canada, they brought Victor along with them as he had decided to immigrate to Canada to start a new life here. On November 1st, 1969, Joyce and Victor were married here in Vancouver and made their home eventually on Mountain Highway in Lynn Valley. Victor loved his home and always showed pride of ownership and kept himself busy with maintaining it and puttering in the garden. In due course, three boys were born to them, Stephen, David and Andrew, whom he loved and prayed for daily. He and Joyce had a busy, happy life and marriage of over 40 years together.

After being a successful businessman in Ireland, Victor already possessed a hard work ethic which he applied in starting over. He always volunteered for overtime at work plus tinkering in his basement workshop with people’s appliances to bring in a few extra dollars, providing the best he could for his growing boys. Every summer, time was always made for great family camping vacations. He fondly remembered the times spent at Nicola Lake with Don and Dorothy Jones’s family and on the Island at Rathtrevor beach with family. They were always entertaining family and friends and he was known for his love of singing too. Nearly always, when visiting in our home, he would gather around the piano with us and enjoy a sing song. Victor was known and loved for his gentle and entertaining nature around children with a story to capture their imagination.

In 1972 Victor joined the Vancouver transit team as a bus driver. He thoroughly enjoyed driving the bus and interaction with his passengers. He was not afraid to witness for his Lord at any opportunity given. He loved the routine and the structure of the bus routes. His kind and helpful nature brought many a stranger home for dinner and whatever help he could provide. Approximately a year before his retirement in 1993, he had a very traumatic experience. He got off his bus to try and help a passenger who had just left the bus and who was hit by a car. The bus rolled back a block and a half, hit a power pole and burst into flames when the transformer fell on top. All remaining passengers were able to exit the bus, but this accident left a very profound impression on sensitive Victor, resulting in night mares among other things. A friend at this time reminded him of the verse in Proverbs 16, verse 33: “the lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord”. This was very comforting to Victor. Afterwards he had a paper printed up about his conversion, the story of his accident, and God’s gracious and providential dealings with regard to the accident. This he called “My Story” and gave it out to anyone he met without hesitation. Victor maintained an active role in many of the churches he attended both in Canada and in Ireland. The family was always involved in Sunday school, Family camps and many other fellowship functions throughout the years.

After Victor’s retirement, he and Joyce had many nice trips together, visiting family in Ireland, Anguilla, Isle of Mann, and down south to Sky Valley California and Baja. They also managed to take their first cruise together, to Alaska, with the help of family and friends as Victor’s mobility was declining. Up until another stroke occurred, Joyce lovingly cared for Victor at home, until her own illness made it necessary for him to live at Kiwanis Care Home where he spent the last three years of his life, having the best of care there as well. Victor was well loved and appreciated by staff for his gentle mannerisms. Joyce predeceased him on November 16th, 2015. After her passing, her sons made sure that there was always someone visiting Victor on the weekends. Many times those visits included the youngest grandchildren, especially Cameron who always with excitement packed up his cars to go see Papa. Even as his condition deteriorated and visits became harder they never wanted him to be alone, as he always was there for his children when they needed him.

On Easter Sunday morning April 1st, 2018 at approximately 6:50 AM, Victor was called home to heaven to be with his Lord and Savior whom he loved and served. A sweet and happy release from earthly frailty.

Victor and Joyce will always be lovingly remembered and missed by their children and grandchildren. They always made the best of what little they had to provide the best they could. Their love and care for one another and their family has been an example of truly loving parents. Their memory will live on.

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At age 90 years, passed away peacefully into the presence of His Lord and Saviour at the Kiwanis Care Centre, North Vancouver, on April 1st, 2018. Victor was predeceased by his loving wife Joyce. Survived by seven sons; Lawrence, Raymond (Leslie), Trevor (Kerry), Ian (Heather), Stephen, David (Tiffany), Andrew (Kathryn), fourteen grandchildren, five great grandchildren and his last sibling Francis (Maureen) Forker. Victor was predeceased by his parents Thomas and Amanda, four brothers; Norman, Cecil, Noel, Morris, sister Beulah and daughter in law Susan. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Kiwanis Care Centre for nurturing his kind and gentle spirit. Victor loved his Lord and touched many lives through a lifetime of service. The memorial service will be held at Hollyburn Funeral Home, 1807 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 1pm, the viewing is at 10am. Graveside is at 11am at Capilano View Cemetery, West Vancouver.