Courtenay, BC, on July 30, 2021, just two days before his 96th birthday.
George was a force of nature from a child, spending summers hunting and fishing from his canoe on the Lake of the Woods near Kenora where he was raised, to joining the war effort in 1943 at 17 years of age, which required that he exaggerate his age to be admitted. He married Lynn (Goulet) Allen and enjoyed 55 years of marriage with her before her passing on July 28, 2002. George fathered two children, Ron Allen of Kelowna and Carol (Allen) Jeans of Courtenay, with whom he shared his love of boating, scuba diving, swimming, fishing, hunting, and all things outdoors. Most summers were spent in these pursuits.
After leaving the Navy, George began a career as an electrician and worked in Penticton and Kimberley, BC, before, once again, joining the Canadian Armed Forces to begin a career that would span 25-years as an electrician and then an instructor, achieving the rank of Warrant Officer. He lived in Portage la Prairie, Cold Lake, and Brampton with the Armed Forces before settling in the Comox Valley some 50 years ago. Upon his retirement from the Armed Forces, George enjoyed several successful years as a realtor before returning to his first vocation as an electrician, which he pursued as a private contractor well into his 70s. After finally dispensing with his working life, George did not remain idle, travelling extensively with his wife Lynn, developing his devastating forehand in tennis, tending to his beloved home and fruitful garden, which produced many wonderful gallons of raspberry wine, and undertaking to earn a pilot’s license in his mid 80s. He often joked that he had won the lottery as he had been receiving a pension longer than he had worked.
Upon the death of Lynn, George travelled on numerous occasions with his son Ron to various
exotic destinations, the most momentous being a trip to Mexico with three generations of Allens,
including Ron’s son Linden. He considered these experiences as just three guys on a road enjoying
each other’s company. He talked about embarking on one more adventure even in the last weeks
of his life.
With declining health and the limitations of age, George lived briefly in Kelowna near his son but
returned to his beloved Comox Valley to live with his partner, Eloise Tobacca, where he helped
manage her farm. He remained fiercely independent until declining health in the last few weeks
of his life saw him needing greater support.
George leaves behind his two children, one brother, Ted Allen of North Vancouver, four
grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his grandson Linden Allen.
He was well regarded by his family and friends and will be well remembered. There will be no
celebration of life at this time.
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