Dr. John Albert Lennox

Dr. John Lennox passed away peacefully on Friday, August 30, 2024, at the age of 90 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In his lifetime he lived on three continents and was dedicated to lifelong learning, service to others, and a loving family. Throughout, he maintained a wry British humor and an affection for bookstores, art, collectibles, the words of Winston Churchill, and many other enthusiasms. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Ruth, daughter Annette Hubbard, and brother William Lennox. He is survived by his sister Janet Lennox, sons Philip (Lorena) Lennox, and David (Lisa) Lennox, and grandchildren Kelsey Lennox, Sarah Lennox, Carissa Hubbard, and Hannah Lennox.

He was born John Albert Lennox on October 8, 1933, to Pastor William and Dorothy May Lennox, in Liverpool, England. He graduated from Durham University Medical School in 1957. On July 14, 1958, he married his medical school classmate (Delma) Ruth Welch, and together they served for nearly a decade in Ghana, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, and later in India and Nepal. Just out of medical school and in their early twenties, the couple took up challenging work that required innovative medicine with scarce resources. John served as medical director of Adventist hospitals in the respective communities where they worked, training local nurses and caring for patients.

John and Ruth were the first physicians in Chetwynd, BC, where they helped to develop the first hospital. They moved to Abbotsford in 1973, set up a medical practice, and served the community for more than forty years. John and Ruth were longtime members of the Abbotsford Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church. They were generous benefactors to their church, members of their community, friends, and family. John was a church elder, school board chair of the SDA high school Fraser Valley Adventist Academy, member of the local Toastmasters, and a community educator.

In his late sixties, John returned to school at Fraser Valley University, and obtained his degree in adult education. He loved mixing with young people and sharing his wisdom and experiences. In 2016 he self-published an autobiography entitled Crossing Cultural Barriers: Serving and Learning in Africa and Beyond.

In 2013 John and Ruth moved to Victoria, BC, to be near family during their last years.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 15, at 11 a.m., in the chapel at Henderson’s Fraser Valley Funeral Home, 34537 Marshall Rd., Abbotsford BC, with a reception to follow. Along with celebrating the life of John, the service will include remembrances of daughter Annette, who passed away during the pandemic. John is interred at Hazelwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mental Health Recovery Partners – South Island: https://mhrp.ca/ .