Dick passed away peacefully on July 15th at Kiwanis Pavilion, Victoria, BC.  He was predeceased by his brothers, Don and Bob and his sister, June.  Dick is survived by his loving wife, Ann; son, Tom (Carol) and daughter, Colleen (Peter) and grandchildren, Fiona, Laura and Kyle.

He was born in Vernon, BC growing up at the Avonlea poultry farm.  After obtaining his MA at Yale and then his PHD at UBC in forestry, he settled in Victoria with his wife, Ann.  Dick worked at the Federal Pacific Forestry Centre until his retirement in 1990.  He truly loved being in nature, working in the bush and creating beautiful gardens.  Ann and Dick enjoyed going on road trips and their move to Grand Forks, BC in 1995 enabled them to further explore BC. Dick was always kind, honest, caring and his dry sense of humour was well known amongst his friends and family.  He will be dearly missed.

The family would like to thank the staff at Kiwanis Pavilion for their care and support in recent years.

A Celebration of Dick’s Life will be held at a later date.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society or a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com

 

  • Rich Hunt

    Hello Ann,
    Dick was always a person I looked up to as a mentor. He and I were 10 years apart almost to the day. He helped me with my Honour’s thesis. He explained his research willingly when we travelled to plots in the West Kootenay, and at Cowichan Lake. He was honest and caring. He is greatly missed. I have been asked to write an obit for the forestry pathology side of his life for the Western International Forest Disease Work Conference. If you want to see it prior to submission please let me know.

  • Tom and Verna Collett

    Ann and family,

    We want to send you our sympathy and supportive thoughts at this time.
    We have many good memories of our friendship over the years. We enjoyed the beautiful photos he took of various trips (I especially recall the slides of a river in China). He was talented in many ways and always very humble about his accomplishments. He so enjoyed working and creating those lovely rock walls in the garden at your home here on Cedarglen Road.
    What I would like to say of Dick is that he was always a gentleman and a good friend.
    I know you will all have many good memories that will ease your loss.
    Tom and Verna Collett

  • Robert McMinn

    Bob McMinn
    July 25, 2017
    It is quite a while since we were in contact, but I should like to reminiisce on the pleasure I had working with Dick in the West Kootenays, visiting his home in Vernon and working with him in the Pacific Forestry Centre in those bygone days. Please accept my sympathy Ann

  • john senyk

    Ann Smith and family:
    It was a bit of a shock to hear of Dicks passing especially since Ed Wass was seeing him off and on and indicated that there were ups and downs in Dicks health but lately things seemed to be OK.

    It has been a long journey for all of you. Irene and I offer our condolences and hope as you continue oh with your lives, memories of the good times with Dick around will bolster your spirits in a positive way. He was a good man – you can’t say much better than that.

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