October 17 1930 – December 23 2016
Husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and dear friend to all, died peacefully in Ladysmith, British Columbia. He lived an incredibly full and active life until a diagnosis of cancer in September 2016. Son of Herbert St George GRAY and Winifred (Calvert), and older brother to Daryl (Suzanne) and Pat (Aleksandra), Bob grew up in Duncan, BC. From his earliest days Bob involved himself in everything around him. In his early teens, Bob, an accomplished accordionist led sing-alongs with his brother Daryl every Saturday at the Duncan Odeon theatre to raise morale during WWII. Bob attended Royal Roads Military College and completed a BA in Economics & Spanish Literature at the University of British Columbia. After meeting the love of his life, Bob and Joan Catherine (INGLIS) married in 1956 in Vancouver BC. He is survived by his beloved wife of over 60 years, Joan, and their children: Robert, Vancouver; Quita (Scott) Earltown, NS; Thea (Rod) Oliver, BC; Leslie (Chris) Vancouver; Ian (Tracy), Edmonton. Sadly, they lost their eldest daughter, Vicki, St Paul, AB to cancer in 2010. His 14 grandchildren (aged 2 - 32 yrs) and one recent great grandson will miss terribly their Grandbob/Bobby G. Bob enjoyed a fulfilling 27-year business career with Richardson Securities, first as a broker and later, executive management. Accepting the challenge of new work assignments, he and Joan lived across the west, raising their 6 children in Victoria BC, Swift Current SK and Edmonton AB before choosing to return to Duncan BC for retirement, eventually settling at Oyster Cove in Ladysmith, BC. Bob loved exploring new places and meeting new people with Joan, his best friend. His second home was Mexico, where he first immersed himself in the language and culture for 3 summers as a University student and continued exploring with Joan over the next 6 decades, beginning in Baja, CA Sur and ending in San Miguel de Allende where they spent many happy winters along with a great community of fellow Canadians. Bob especially loved his men’s hiking group. Later in life, he and Joan cultivated a close relationship with a Mayan family in Guatemala over many years, supporting their children’s education right through University. Other highlights included extended trips exploring South Africa and Australia and New Zealand, and visiting their children across the country and abroad. Bob was known and loved by his family and scores of friends for his genuine warmth and charming sense of humour. He guided his family through life’s challenges with wisdom, compassion, a smile and a bright twinkle in his eye. He passed on to his children his love of travel, music, Spanish, puns, writing and adventuring. Some of Bob’s happiest moments were spent with family making music, competent on the accordion, harmonica, banjo ukulele and clarinet. Bob loved summers in Oyster Cove, relaxing by the water, enjoying fresh crab and sharing laughs with family and neighbours. Special thanks to those neighbours and friends who have supported the family immeasurably during this difficult time. Bob leaves behind a legacy of friendships and encounters all over the world and will be remembered with love by so many. A private celebration of his life will be held in the summer