James Melven Rhindress

James Melvin Rhindress was born in Vancouver, BC April 4, 1941. The only child of James Gordon Rhindress and Alina Sulunder, he went to public and then private school in the greater Vancouver area before moving to Nakusp, BC where he attended high school.

While working at the Salmo sawmill in his early 20s, he met and fell in love with Annette Louise Gleboff. They married in Idaho in 1963 and had their first child Donna Lynn Rhindress in 1964 then later their son James William Rhindress in 1966.

They lived in Salmo then moved to Chemainus on Vancouver Island where Jim worked at a sawmill, moving to Kitimat, BC from 1971-1975 where he served as a fireman and won the BC First Aid Championship in 1971. In 1975, they moved to Lakelse Lake then to Grand Forks where Jim single handedly built a log cabin. The marriage dissolved in 1976.

Jim and his son moved to Williams Lake, BC for a short time then Jim Jr. went to Kitimat to be with his mother and sister and Jim Sr. moved to Burnaby where his parents lived. After a short stay, he secured his own apartment in New Westminster, BC where he found permanent employment as a school custodian for the next 20 years.

During his time in New Westminster, BC, Jim got involved with a local church and had the great adventure of traveling to Africa on a mission to build homes. It was a very special and impactful experience and he brought home many sculptures and photographs from that trip.

Jim always had a great appreciation for art and was a talented sculptor himself, specializing in Brazilian soapstone, several of which were sold in galleries in the lower mainland.

He retired from his custodial career and relocated to Kelowna in 2003 to live with his son Jim and his children James Aaron and Jessica Anette.

He met Gena Baker in 2007 at a dance and they moved in together a year later. They enjoyed each other’s company and had many wonderful years together exploring shared interests in art, music, nature and world events as well as taking care of their treasured dog Mei-li.

Jim was always an avid reader and continued to create art in many modalities including encaustic painting, calligraphy, oil painting and water colour. He was a renowned pool shark and spent many hours with his son and grandson around a pool table teaching the “youngsters” how it’s done.

Forever an optimist, Jim spent his later years practicing kindness and gratitude, sponsoring a needy child for decades through SOS Children’s Villages.

He is survived by Gena, his daughter Donna & wife Claudette, son Jim & wife Kim, granddaughter Jessica, grandson James and eight great grandchildren.

He will be dearly remembered and greatly missed.