Beulah Dobson

Beulah was born in Vancouver, BC on March 10, 1922 to missionary parents, Rev. Alex and Gwen Munroe. Her parents returned to Japan when she was a year old and her sister Huldah was born in Tokyo in November 1924. She attended kindergarten and grade one in Japan before returning to Canada for her father to pastor in Victoria, BC. They moved several times, finally settling in Vancouver where her grandfather, Rev. Frank Maddaford, along with her parents started Glad Tiding Temple on Cordova Street in 1929.

Beulah attended Kitsilano Junior High and graduated from Seaview High School on West 4th Avenue. After graduation she attended Pitman Business School and began her career in 1939 at Woodward’s in the office of the meat dept. She was promoted many times and eventually became Executive Assistant to the Vice-President, a position she held until the late 1960’s

She married Bob Dobson during WWII (December 1943) while he was on a brief leave from the Canadian Army. When Bob was discharged in 1945, they built a home in North Vancouver and Bob resumes his career in the lumber industry. Beulah put her career on hold for many years when Karen and Ken were born. With her boundless energy, Bob encouraged her to go back to work when Ken started kindergarten.

In the late 60’s Beulah, needing more challenges became the Executive Assistant to the Director of the Vancouver General Hospital. When her boss was offered a position in the Provincial Ministry of Health in 1972, he asked her to continue as his assistant. When a change of government occurred four years later her boss decided to retire, and Beulah again faced another career decision. Her son-in-law Otto encouraged her to take the real estate course and thus began a long successful career as a realtor. She worked tirelessly and was finally encouraged by her family to retire at the age of 80.

Bob & Beulah loved to entertain both at their home and in their favorite vacation place, Scottsdale, Arizona. After Bob passed away suddenly in 1988 Beulah continued to travel taking trips to India, Australia, Europe, China and California.

Her life changed suddenly in 2011 while attending her great nephew’s wedding with family in San Diego. She had a terrible fall and ended up with a broken back in the Spinal Cord Unit at VGH. The surgeon told her that she would never walk again. However, wither determination and physical therapy; she eventually was able to walk again with the aid of a walker.

Beulah’s health began to decline earlier this year and she died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of August 8, 2019. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren deeply. They will miss her but rejoice she is now reunited in her heavenly home with Bob and her parents.

She is survived by her children, Karen Froelich (Otto), Ken Dobson and sister Huldah Buntain. She will be missed by her Karen’s children, Kimberly (Clint) Ironmonger and their two children, Dobson and Alexa; Jordan (Amanda) Froelich and daughter Makena; Justin (Victoria) Froelich and son Fraser and Koehn and all from Langley, BC. Brooke Adkinson and children Taylor & Mackenzie (San Diego); Brittany (Michael) McLaughlin (New York) and Bobby Dobson (Gianna) and daughter Rosemary (Huntingdon Beach, Calif). She will also be missed by nieces, Bonnie (Jim) Long & Family and Maureen (Jay) Cercone From Oklahoma City.

A celebration of her life will be held on Friday August 23rd, 2019 at 11:00 am at Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre 14831 28th Avenue Surrey, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CMM Canada, PO Box 39036, RPO James Bay, Victoria, BC V8V 4X8. (this organization helps the disadvantaged women in Calcutta where her sister has been a missionary for 65 years)