Harold Roy Gillespie

Harold Roy Gillespie passed away peacefully in the Cascade Hospice, Chilliwack, June 30, 2013 following a brief illness. Roy, as he was known to everyone, was born in Calgary in 1923, and worked and lived in many places in BC, including Alert Bay, Vancouver, Princeton and Chilliwack. He is survived by daughters Barbara Innes (Bob) Langley, BC, and Jennifer Gillespie, Worthing, Kent, England, and by sons David Gillespie (Beth), Chilliwack, BC and Malcolm Gillespie (Jackie), Shoreham-by-Sea, Kent, England. He was predeceased by second wife Phyllis, and by his sister Helen Annable of Calgary, Alberta. He will be deeply missed by Goldie Street, his loving companion and friend of 20 years. All his family and friends will miss him very much, including grandchildren Gordon and Sandra Gillespie, Robbie, Rylan, Rakale and Rorey Innes and Tamsin and OIiver Gillespie, and great-grandchildren Alana and Amber Gillespie, Ruby Innes and Jane Gillespie. Goldie’s family, Lorne (Lark) Street and Della (Terry) Whitlam and their children will miss the friendship and good times.

Roy enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1940, and fought throughout the Second World War, in the Mediterranean, Italy and France, and was discharged in 1945. He worked for the Canadian Department of Transport, as a radio operator and electronics technician, at various stations on the west coast of British Columbia, and in Vancouver. After retirement, he worked in Indonesia, for the International Civil Aviation Organization, helping to build air navigation capacity in that country. He developed a saskatoon berry farm in Princeton, BC, and eventually fully retired to Chilliwack in 1999, to be near Goldie, and his family. He was a proud father and grandfather, a loving husband to Phyllis and loving partner and companion to Goldie. He and Goldie travelled widely and had many adventures together. Roy had a great zest for life, and enjoyed family and friends, food, travel, and good whisky. The adventure is over but the memories will live on.

The family thanks Dr. Quentin Smith and doctors and staff at Crossroads Family Practice in Sardis for providing such wonderful care for Roy during his time in Chilliwack but especially in recent years; the staff at the Cascade Manor assisted living in Chilliwack for helping to provide a home in the past 5 years; and the Chilliwack Hospital and the Cascade Hospice for their wonderful care and support.

In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to Canadian Diabetes, the Canadian Legion, or a charity of choice. There will be no service, at his request. Family and friends will be welcomed to an informal reception and tea. Contact Dave, Barb or Goldie for details or email [email protected] before 12 July.