Jim Olding passed away at Douglas Care Home in Victoria, B.C., on December 26, 2016. He was 97 years old. Jim was born on February 23, 1919, in Eastbourne, England.
Predeceased by his wife, Patricia, Jim is survived by his two sons and their families, including grandchildren and now one great grandchild.
Jim immigrated with his parents to North Battleford, Saskatchewan, where his Father and Uncle operated the Olding and Olding law firm. After the Depression, the Family migrated to Victoria, but rather than following his Father into law, Jim headed down to California and earned his Pilot’s Licence from the Boeing School of Aeronautics.
WWll soon had Jim flying night raids while piloting Lancaster bombers. This was put to an end in 1943 when Captain Herbert Lutje, A Luftwaffe Ace, shot down Jim’s plane over Bevergern, Germany. Jim was the sole survivor of the crew of seven. He spent the rest of the war in German prison camps, including Stalag Luft 111, of Great Escape fame.
Trans Canada Airlines picked up many of the WW11 airmen, including Jim, who spent 37 years manning the Dorval – Trudeau Airport Flight Dispatch office. Flight Dispatch was at the hub of operations and there were few pilots who did not rely on Jim’s route selections. When in Dorval, Jim worked as flight dispatch supervisor and when SOC was created Jim was one of the first Operational Control Managers.
All good things must come to an end and it was time for Pat and Jim to move on, this time, to Saltspring Island. Together with an architect, Jim built his own home with a view down to Sansum Narrows and a flight of steps that allowed Jim and Pat to share a private ocean swim on warm, Saltspring Days.
Jim’s gregariousness touched many people around the world and he will be truly missed by those that loved him.
A special thank you goes out to the Staff at Douglas Care and John Preston at Wedgwood Heights, and to so many others as well.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, on Tuesday, January 10, 2016 at 3:00pm.
The Family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and care aids, especially Khelie, who cared for Jim.
Condolences May be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
-
mike todd
-
Karen McCullough Sincere condolences from the McCulloughs on the loss of your father. Your Uncle Gordon would also have been 97 if he’d survived as long as Uncle Jim! He certainly had a long and full life.
-
Kim Nash I’m sorry to hear of Jim’s passing and regret I won’t be able to make it to his service, but I remember both him and Pat very fondly and think of them often. They were a very special couple and very gallant about each setback of aging. They lived life fully and with great grace and humour. My condolences to all your family.
-
Heather Warren My condolences on the loss of your father. Uncle Jim was so fun to be around, full of energy, sharp as a tack and never failed to bring a smile to my face. I feel fortunate to have known him, and I treasure the memories of our visits to the Salt Spring house and later the Victoria residences. Jim always had a joke ready and a twinkle in his eye. I always remember him bounding down the stairs to the ocean on Salt Spring. I couldn’t keep up to him. He was in the water before I reached the last step. This is how I will always picture him, full of life. I can’t imagine him any other way.
-
Frank Lizaraso Lizaraso Family present their condolence to Jim`s family.
Jim went to Victoria High School with my mother and father and they remained best friends throughout their lives.
My dad, who also flew Lancs in WW2, loved to hear Jim tell his amazing tale of the last mission over Germany – his plane exploding, regaining consciousness floating to earth under a chute – the sole survivor followed by being captured and held for years in a Nazi POW camp.
My parents introduced me to Jim and Pat’s during one of their visits to Victoria while they were still living in Montreal. I was a young kid flying bush planes and we became immediate fast friends. He encouraged me to build my hours and apply to Air Canada. I don’t know who he bribed, but before I knew it I was standing across a briefing desk in dispatch and Jim was telling me the best route to get our DC-8 to London.
After he retired, I would see the Oldings very often at my folks place for dinner. While enjoying the party, they would always be careful not to miss “the last ferry” to their lovely home on Saltspring.
In recent years I would gather Jim and my dad and take them to the Remembrance Day Ceremony in downtown Victoria. On one arm I would have this limping old deaf guy (Jim) and on the other this old coot with dementia (Derek) and I’d wind them thru the crowd which would part like the Red Sea to their seats of honour in front. I was so proud of them. The tears would flow when the guns started firing.
My father died a few years ago and now with Jim’s passing I am reminded how fortunate my generation is to have had these men as fathers.
Jim was a quiet and dignified gentleman. A real life hero, yet one of the most humble and kind people I’ve ever met. It was an honour to have known him.
Rest in Peace.