Richard Corbet Bunbury

Born in Hodgkinson’s kitchen in LaTuque, Quebec, on August 11, 1928, Dick spent his childhood in a big family full of laughter. After the early death of his parents, he lived in Montreal with his aunt and uncle. A life-long love affair with Margaret Templeton began with his work on the Ness’ farm in Riverfield, Quebec; that bond brought him back east from a job in Lumby, BC. Dick established his own family at Ingoldsby Farm on English River Road, after completing his agriculture studies at Macdonald College. Ogilvie Feeds chemistry lab kept him busy while the family was young.

His five children – Ian (Carol), Wynn (Ted Allard), Cindy, Rick (Karen Steed) and Elly (Terry McNeilly) – recall years of canoeing, fishing, backyard rinks, road trips and love – more than enough to go around. There was always room at the table, and beds for friends and relatives looking for home.

Later, Dick mentored a generation of young farm advisors from his FOC offices in North Bay, Ottawa, and Guelph, Ontario, before retiring to Abbotsford BC. He and Margaret traveled in Nepal, China, Tanzania, Europe, the US and Canada. He was particularly pleased with trekking to Everest Base Camp and crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary ll. After contract work for the FBDB, Dick joined the Langley Environmental Partners Society, serving on the board for a decade; he was a member of the Glenn Valley Watershed Society, Abbotsford Mission Nature Club, and the Abbotsford Soil Conservation Association.

For more than thirty years in the west, Dick reveled in having his children, ten grandchildren (Christine, Robert, Suzanne, Nicholas, Chantal, Kyle, Katelynn, Kayla, Jillian and Eric), nine great grandchildren and many dear nieces and nephews around him, anchoring his family within a warm and loving web of friends and relatives spanning the globe. He remained active almost to the last, instrumental in running of the family farm, overlooking the Fraser Valley and Mount Baker.

The eagles and coyotes, the owls and horses, the garden and the dogs occupied his hours and lent purpose to a life well lived. Margaret, his sister Marjorie Warburton, and his extended family will miss his humor and his generous spirit. He remains with us in each fencepost he replaced, every tree he planted, each small engine he repaired. The family will gather this summer to honor him. Like the Fordsons he tinkered with, may he rest in peace. In lieu of flowers, Dick would want friends to donate to an environmental charity of their choice.

Online condolences to the family may be made at www.woodlawnfh-abbotsford.com.