Donald Gordon James

It is with great sadness that we announce that Donald James passed away peacefully on February 28th. Don will be dearly missed by his two sons, Chad (Susanna) and Michael (Doug); his grandchildren Brandon, Emma and Sophia; his two sisters Kathy (Gary) and Judy and their children.

Don was born in Calgary, Alberta, where his father was stationed with the RCAF. His family relocated to Victoria, BC when he and his sisters were still toddlers. Don grew up in the Quadra neighbourhood of Victoria and graduated from Victoria High School, eventually moving to Vancouver to complete his civil engineering degree in 1966 at the University of British Columbia. Soon after graduating, Don took a job with the Collins Radio Company in Dallas, Texas, moving with his wife, Willa, and son, Chad. His second son, Michael, was born in Dallas, and the family resided there until moving to North Vancouver in the early 1970s when Don was hired by BC Tel, working for many years in their real estate division. North Vancouver was the place Don loved the most, and he lived there for the rest of his life.

Don was passionate about the outdoors, and he also loved to travel, planning long road trips around North America and enjoying many wonderful adventures around Europe, the Caribbean and South America. In his later years, slowed down by MS, he was busy in his garden, at his stamp club, getting together regularly with his many groups of friends, or listening to the latest adventures of his grandchildren whom he adored.

Don will live on in our hearts. We will miss him greatly.

A funeral service will be held at the Boal Chapel, 1505 Lillooet Road, North Vancouver on Monday, March 13 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the MS Society of Canada are appreciated.