Richard Keith Rumley

Born 30 July 1931, Died 24 June 2023

Survived by his wife Leila (nee Thompson), his two sons Ian (Edee) and Glen (Betty), and four grandchildren and one great grandchild. Predeceased by his father David, mother Helen Pay (Rumley)(nee Dennis), siblings Earl, Freda, William (“Smiley”), David, and Doug.

He met Leila as a blind date on Valentines Day 1953. They married on 30 July 1955. This is his Keith’s birthday, a day chosen by his fiancé, Leila, so he would never forget his anniversary!

He worked at many jobs, mainly logging, until he got steady work at the BC Forestry Service and moved to Alert Bay in 1958. Keith and Leila’s first son Ian was born in 1960 and Glen followed in 1962.

Alert Bay turned out to be a special place for Keith and Leila. As well as having their children there, they made many close, lifelong friends that they kept in touch with until even today. This is also where Keith changed jobs to work for the BC Telephone Co. – which he worked for until he retired in 1986. He transferred to the Campbell River office in 1964.

They enjoyed travel – local, provincial, national, and international – camping, canoeing, hiking, bus trips, and cruises on both big and small ships and boats.

Keith loved commercial fishing and he owned and fished the troller “Sunrise” for several years. Later in his life he was very involved in the Oyster River Enhancement Society. He was an active member of Kinsmen and, when he was younger, he was a volunteer firefighter in Alert Bay and Campbell River. He also enjoyed puttering in his shop, and every year he made and gave away a few “Fairy houses” for people to decorate their garden with. Another hobby was rug hooking, and he loved to give friends and family rugs made just for them.

When Keith had his health, he loved walking and would often walk several kilometers in a day. This ended when his knee deteriorated, but now he is free to walk wherever he wants.

Service at Campbell River United Church, Saturday 29 July, 2023, at 1pm.