Robert "Bob" George Cranston Bater

Bob (Dad) was born May 23, 1933, in Winnipeg, MB and passed away February 25, 2022 in Langley, BC of cancer.

Dad started school in Charleswood, MB and finished school in White Rock, BC. After school he worked at various jobs across BC, from the Lower Mainland to Stewart, a small town near the Alaskan panhandle. His jobs ranged as far and wide as their locations with positions such as a general labourer, logging truck driver, and lab technician. While working in Manning Park he would actually ride horseback to get to one of his fishing spots during his spare time.

Dad always had a passion for aircraft and, in 1953, he joined the Royal Canadian Airforce. He was stationed in Claresholm, AB where he trained as an aircraft mechanic (AME). In 1956 he was transferred to Greenwood, NS where he met Helen Patricia Stillwell. They were married September 3, 1957, in Middleton, NS and their honeymoon took them to Niagara Falls with several stops along the way. A little excerpt from the bride’s book read, “We stayed in a beautiful motel, $0.25 cents to play the radio and $1.00 to watch T.V.”.

Cathy, their first child, was born in 1958, then along came Greg in 1961. Dad was transferred to Baden Baden in Germany during the Cold War era in 1964. Instead of living on the base we lived above our German landlords which made for a great cultural experience for our family. In 1968 he was transferred again, and we moved back to Chatham, NB where we stayed until his release from the R.C.A.F in 1972.

During his career in the R.C.A.F he started working on piston powered aircraft and eventually moved on to jets, including the CF-104 Starfigher. One of the highlights were 3 rides in a CF-104 where he went through the sound barrier.

As if he wasn’t busy enough, Dad created Baters Burner Service (a furnace repair company) that he kept as a side job while in Chatham. He also earned his civilian aircraft mechanic endorsement there while working on small planes at a local airport.

Moving to BC in 1972 was the continuation of his aviation career and, in typical Bob Bater fashion, he took on a new side job building our family home in Aldergrove. He worked at Burnett Resource Surveys out of Langley Airport from 1972 to 1988 with duties that included aircraft maintenance and aerial photography for mapping and navigation purposes. During his employment with Burnett he was contracted out and spent time doing iceberg studies in the Beaufort Sea for the resource sector. The hangar he worked in is now the home of the Canadian Museum of Flight.

In 1983 we lost an amazing person, our mother, to cancer. She was affectionately known in the neighbourhood as Grama Pat.

In 1988, Dad started with Harbour Air and eventually became chief engineer. Modifications to the Beaver and single Otter were his proudest accomplishments. He designed and approved 12 different modifications for the single Otter and built numerous floating concrete docks.

In 1991, Mary Ann Corfe became Dad's new partner in life and would stay as such until the end. He purchased a Cessna 172, refurbished it, and flew locally for several years before selling it and buying a motorhome.

In May 2003 he ‘retired’ or, as Dad put it, took a long holiday after 50 years of uninterrupted employment. Well, not totally. He ended up working just a bit longer - couldn't quit cold turkey. Once his holiday finally started Dad was never idle; he always had things to do. He loved puttering in his second home, The Workshop, building miniature engines and windmills. He also enjoyed watching the races in Agassiz and even had his name painted on one of the cars for all the work he did to it.

His contributions to aviation will continue on for years to come, whether it's on a Harbour Air plane or any Beaver or turbine Otter that adopted ‘Mad Dog’ Bater’s modifications.

In parting, Dad used to say it was never work for him, he loved what he did and wouldn't change a thing.

Rest in peace from your oh-so proud family.

Love you, Dad. Blue skies and tailwinds.