Mr. Richard Drummond Forbes - Roberts

With heavy hearts we announce that Richard Drummond “Dick” Forbes-Roberts died peacefully on April 24th, 2015 of natural causes associated with aging. He was 96 years old.

Dick was born in Arcola, Saskatchewan on July 18th, 1918 to Herbert and Melissa (nee Jefferson) Forbes-Roberts. Growing up on the prairies, Dick developed a lifelong love of nature and fishing.

In 1938, Dick entered the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, which he attended until the onset of the war. He trained as a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force and after marrying Dorothy Innes Hopkins in 1941, Dick was sent overseas where he served with distinction, flying Spitfires while stationed in England and France. In 2014, the government of France presented him with the French Legion of Honour Award for his part in helping to liberate their country.

After the war, Dick remained in the service and was commander of Royal Canadian Air Force bases in eastern Canada. He retired from the RCAF in 1965. The family moved to Vancouver, BC where Dick worked as Student Placement Officer with Canada Manpower. He retired in 1980.

Besides camping and fishing, Dick enjoyed many hobbies including model railroading, carpentry and wine making. He was a warm, caring and compassionate man with a playful sense of humour who was greatly loved by those who knew him.

Predeceased by Dorothy, his wife of seventy years, and his siblings Robert, Cutty (Bernice) and Maxine, Dick is survived by son Ron, daughter Jacqueline, grandchildren Anton, Hilary and Ryan and grandchildren Alex, Dylan, Tessa and Jonas.

A memorial service celebrating Dick’s life will be held at 3:00 pm on May 20th, 2015 at Saint Francis in the Woods Anglican Church, 4773 South Piccadilly Rd, West Vancouver, BC.

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