Raymond Bamford

Ray was born in Adelaide South Australia in 1928. He was the second child of three, an older sister Nancy, and a younger brother Lance. Ray's parents were Colin and Grace Bamford, both of Australia. Their parents - Ray's grand parents originally immigrated to Australia from Great Britain and Germany.

Known for his adventurous nature, Ray enlisted in the South Australian Army at the age of 18. He soon embarked on a career that took him away from his homeland. Ray served in several countries including Korea (in Continuous Full Time War Service and Active Service in the Australian Imperial Force) and an occupation in Japan. On his lengthy station in Hiroshima Japan, Ray was married to Ikuko Ueda in 1954. Ray enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1952, where he and his wife later relocated to Canada.

Ray's first Canadian military posting was the city of Vancouver British Columbia. There Ray and Ikuko (whom he also called Grace), had their first two children - a daughter Fay and a son Trevor. The year following, the family of four set out to a northern posting in the Yukon Territory where their third child was born - a daughter Christine.

It was in this northern place that Ray fell in love with the rivers and beauty of the landscape. He took his family on trips along the Alaska Highway and further north of Whitehorse in the Yukon and the northern state of Alaska USA. Ray obtained his pilots license and began flying over the north, logging his trips into a journal. However, about this time unfortunately Ray suffered an eye injury while working at the base. He was hospitalized in Vancouver away from his family. Later, Ray's recovery allowed for his return to duty and a life of moving wherever his work took him.

The next post was CFB Chilliwack in Vedder Crossing. During that period, Ray was also sent to serve in Egypt as a Peacekeeper. Around this time Ray and Grace had become close friends with May and Ethel McLachlan of Chilliwack, passionate missionaries with the United Church. The sisters went abroad in their missions but later returned to reside and work in Chilliwack - as well as to be laid to rest there.

Others close to Ray and Grace were Peter and Rieko Sullivan, also of Australian and Japanese heritage. The two families kept in contact throughout their entire lives, both in the military and afterward. In 1997 Peter passed away in Chilliwack. His wife remains close to Ray and Grace, and resides in Chilliwack.

A posting overseas to Germany was to come after Chilliwack. Ray went ahead and the family followed him to Soest Westphalia. During the three years of military duty in Germany - Ray, Grace and the three children traveled to numerous surrounding countries. They include Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, and Denmark, to name a few. Family vacationing was enjoyed by driving and pulling a travel trailer, where campgrounds were the place to stay while visiting a country. Learning about art, culture, architecture, and language kept everyone interested and on their toes.

In 1970 Ray was posted back to Canada where he and his family found themselves in Penhold Alberta. After 4 years in another environment and the children growing into their teens, the family began moving in different directions. By the next posting to Kamloops British Columbia, there were 2 children at home along with the family cat Tora.

During these years Ray kept busy landscaping the yard and fishing at some of the lakes that encompass the Kamloops region. Grace had became an active member of the community and worked in various outlets and fashion shops. Throughout the years when their children came to visit, they enjoyed get togethers, drives, fishing expeditions, and flights. These trips always included rock hounding (Ray loved rocks) and venturing into the wilderness. At their cabin on Sheridan Lake, the family would meet up and clear bush, have campfires, sit on logs, eat and listen to the loons calling out hauntingly across the lake.

After Ray's retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces, he returned to work as a Commissioner at Mount Lolo's Radar Base Kamloops. Ray loved the mountain he worked on. He drove up a long winding road everyday, taking in the wildlife and scenery along the way. This would be his final work-site.

Ray and Grace decided to move to Chilliwack in 2002. Unfortunately soon after settling, Ray had a heart condition that required a quadruple bypass at VGH. Again Ray was determined to regain his health. This continued until present day. Ray was a fighter. He loved his life and his family and was planning to stick around for awhile longer - of which he did.

Ray loved watching the black and white Turner Classic Movies, and also enjoyed NHL hockey games. He enjoyed being with his grandchildren, making people laugh with his dry humour, and requesting peanut butter sandwiches. Some of Ray's other interests were works of art, in particular oil paintings. He appreciated music, where at times he would love something from the moment he heard it and became choked up. This was the case with the 'Ashokan Farewell' - a song that was first played for him by his grandson Raymond.

Ray visited his homeland by himself in the 60's and with Grace in the 70's and the 90's. There were many relatives who came to visit their home (in Germany, and mostly in Canada) throughout the years from Australia and Japan. Picking up family members from airports was a common occurrence, as well as showing them beautiful places such as Banff, Jasper, Lake Louise, the Columbia Icefields, the Fraser Canyon, and Vancouver Island. The overseas families of Ray and Grace enjoyed seeing Canada's magnificent landscapes while being with their loved ones.

Ray is the first of the Bamford's to have passed away in Canada. His children have married into families who have ancestors buried here in the country; but in Ray's family, he will be the one to lead the way. The surviving family will remember him as a good-hearted family man who clearly loved people and places. He also loved the simple things in life, a cup of coffee and sharing a piece of his dinner with his dog. Ray referred to his dog as his "little friend". He thought about her when he ate, slept, went shopping, or when planning just about anything. Chibi was a part of his family, much like a child.

It is with great sadness that we part with Ray now. But our hearts will remember his goodwill forever. Grace and the 3 children, along with their 8 grandchildren - all residents of British Columbia - will keep his memory alive. It was the little things that made Ray a great person, a person that others enjoyed being around. And although Ray was a military man his entire life, he was also an ordinary and practical man who conversed with most anyone.

During the final part of Ray's life he stayed in hospital for several months. Many health professionals enjoyed his witty personality, as well as his quiet disposition. Ray did not like to cause anyone worries, and would often sit for hours in silence watching television. He was easy going, yet also clear in what he wished for. He loved his wife, their home and his little dog. That is where he really wished to be. Above all, Ray will be remembered as a good husband, father and grandfather to his family - as well as a kind brother, uncle, and cousin to relatives overseas.

We are thankful knowing that Ray is now resting peacefully and his family are looking forward to being reunited with him one day. In the interim, we celebrate his life of 81 and a half years on this earth. It was a blessing to have known him and a privilege to honour him.

Raymond Bamford

December 1928 - June 2010