Don George passed away unexpectedly at Dunrovin Park Lodge in the early morning of December 26th, 2016 at the age of 87. Don joins his loving wife Jean who passed away in November 2013. Dearly loved and missed by his sons Richard (Judy) of Quesnel and Mark in Sparwood; his sister Eileen Graham, brothers Chris Martin (Lyn) and Tim Martin (Janice), sister-in-law Pam Sleep (Reg), brother-in-law Bob Farmer (Jean) and many nieces and nephews all of whom reside in the U.K.
Don was born December 15, 1929 in London, England to Arthur and Margaret George and was predeceased by both along with his brother-in-law John Graham. He grew up the oldest of 4 children and was evacuated from London with his sister Eileen during WWII from 1939-1943. From 1948-1950 he served with the Royal Air Force in Egypt. Upon his return, he worked for Foxboro Controls.
In the early 1950’s he met Jean, the love of his life, while working in a factory in England. They married in 1954 in Eltham, England and soon after moved clear across the globe to New Zealand to pursue Don’s expansive career in Pulp and Paper, originally with Tasman Pulp and Paper Company. As an Instrumentation Mechanic, he was recruited to Celgar Pulp in Castlegar in 1964, which brought them to Canada – the first time. Much too cold they returned to New Zealand until 1967 when he was once again recruited by Skookumchuck Pulp which is near Cranbrook. They finally settled in Quesnel in 1972 working at Cariboo Pulp and Paper as an Instrumentation Foreman and eventually Instrumentation Superintendent until his retirement at the age of 65. They loved Quesnel, raised their two boys here and made many friends through Don’s career, the neighbourhood, and their passion for woodworking and crafts in their later years.
His eye for detail and meticulous nature made him create very clever and practical items made of wood, whether it be rocking horses for children, candle holders, or intricate pieces for weaving looms, there was nothing too small or too difficult for him to construct.
Our sincere appreciation to Dr. Van Dyk, the nursing staff at Dunrovin Park Lodge as well as Stan and Gloria at Abbott Heights Supportive Living for their special care and compassion.
It is the wishes of Don’s family that his remains be cremated and returned to England where he will join Jean and many members of their family at a later date. There will be a memorial service in England at that time.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of condolences can be made to the Don and Jean George Family endowment fund set up with the Quesnel Community Foundation, PO Box 4158, Quesnel, BC Canada V2J 3J2, phone 250-983-9295; email qcf@shaw.ca, website: www.quesnelfoundation.ca Proceeds from this fund are distributed to groups in the community to encourage and benefit the interest in Arts and Culture.