Ronald William Delair

But decades before that area was known as Bakerview Farm and was the home of an Abbotsford pioneer family – the DeLairs.

Ronald William DeLair passed away, surrounded by his family, on Aug. 12 at the age of 87.

Ron was born in Abbotsford in 1932, the son of local pioneers, Tom and Daisy DeLair and lived here his entire life. Raised during the Great Depression on the family’s dairy farm, Ron learned the value of family, hard work, and having a good sense humour. He attended Upper Sumas Elementary and graduated from Phillip Sheffield High School in 1950.

Growing up, Ron enjoyed sports, hunting and cars; milking and haying, not so much. He transitioned into a career working as an auto parts manager and sales rep until he retired in 1992.

In 1959, Ron married Dorothy “Ann” Paul and they had two children, Lindsay and Drew. The family enjoyed camping and spending time at their place at Whidbey Island. Ron’s interests included photography, gardening and reading. Once retired, he and Ann traveled extensively and he particularly enjoyed Ireland.

The true impact that DeLair left on the community could be felt in the many hours he spent volunteering with Abbotsford groups. He served on the executive board with the Abbotsford Kinsmen Club, the Rod and Gun Club, the Abbotsford Softball Association, the Abbotsford Curling Club and the MSA Minor Hockey Association. He also supported many local charities and coached minor sports teams.

He was also heavily involved in volunteering with local law enforcement. He served five years as a special constable with Matsqui Police Services and 25 years as an RCMP as an auxiliary constable. He also worked as a security volunteer at the Abbotsford 2004 BC Summer Games and 1995 Western Canada Summer Games in Abbotsford.

He went on to serve on the MSA Museum executive and the Sumas Prairie and Area Historical Society. He was involved in the writing of the books ‘One Foot on the Border’ and ‘Alphabetically Abbotsford’ and established Sumas Pioneer Park.

The DeLair family is also connected in Abbotsford through DeLair Road and DeLair Park, which hosts baseball and soccer facilities.

He is survived by his wife Ann, daughter Lindsay and son-in-law Jerry, son, Drew and daughter-in-law, Eileen and grandchildren Thompson, Jewell, Dani and Annabel, along with his dog Daisy. Drew and his family still reside in Abbotsford.

Lindsay said she wants her father to be remembered as a selfless man, who was always willing to help make the community better.

“He had an incredible sense of duty and responsibility and was always ready to help and do things for other people,” she said. “He had a terrific sense of humour and an incredible thirst for knowledge. When he was growing up he wasn’t able to afford to go to university, but I think that encouraged him to never stop learning or reading about new things.”

Despite his career and many volunteer roles throughout the community, she said he was always there as a father.

“Just thinking of all the things he did when I was growing up and all the things he was involved in, I never remember saying ‘where’s dad?’”, she said. “He always had time for his family, that came first.”

She said he was proud and amazed at how much Abbotsford had changed in his lifetime.

“Never in his wildest dreams did he think it would be this developed,” she said, adding that he was also involved with Ducks Unlimited and was passionate about finding ways to allow nature to thrive in an urban area.

She added that due to COVID-19 restrictions there will be no service at this time, but they hope to release an online celebration of life slideshow.