Reginald David Saunders

Reginald David Saunders, a pioneer of the Lumby area, passed away peacefully April 27, 2011 after a brief illness. Reg was born in Trinity Valley June 26, 1922 to Don and Jenny Saunders, original settlers in the area. After his service in the RCAF during WW 2, Reg settled in the Lumby area where he farmed for many years. He was active in the community, the Legion and very involved with St James the Less Anglican Church. Promoting and supporting the local dairy industry was very important to him and he became a Director of NOCA Dairy and an original board member of SODICA. Every organization activity he became involved in benefitted from his knowledge, his commitment and energy and his contacts.

Reg’s number one passion was people. His family always came first in his heart and they knew it. His commitment to his wife and children was evident to everyone as in between milking cows and farming activities he would run to plays, band concerts, 4H events and horse shows. Last fall he completed, published and released his family history book as a final gift to all the family. It chronicles the Saunders family from the early 1600’s in Calcutta to pioneering in Trinity Valley to current day generations.

Reg was predeceased by his parents Don and Jenny and his first wife Thora. Left to celebrate his life is wife Mary, children David (Linda), Freddi (Glenn), Tim, Jennifer (Joe), Sheila (Blaine), grandchildren Christopher, Lyle, Kim, Michelle, Chad and Christy and great-grandchildren Mikaela, Keely, Rylan, Kurt, Logan, Leia, Matthew and Lauchlin and brother Eric (Melva).

The funeral will be held at All Saint’s Anglican Church, 3205 27th Street Vernon, B.C. , on Thursday, May 5, 2011 @ 1:00. Interment will follow at the Saunders family plot in the Lumby Cemetry with a reception and celebration of life to follow at 3:00 in the White Valley Community Center, 2230 Shields Avenue in Lumby.

Reg asked for no flowers please, but donations to North Okanagan Hospice Society 3506 27th Ave. Vernon V1T 1S4 are welcomed.

Arrangements are in the care of Vernon Funeral Home 250-542-0155. Condolences may be offered at www.VernonFuneralHome.com