Mr. George Oliver

The 4th of 6 children born to Margaret (nee Millar) and Edison Oliver, George came into the world on December 24, 1922. Although born in Langley Prairie, BC. George and his siblings were raised on a homestead farm near Bowden, Alberta. George’s father passed away in 1932 and Margaret raised the six children on her own during the worst of the ‘dirty 30’s’. The family moved to Vancouver, BC in 1937, when George was 14. Though he would spend the rest of his days living in and around Vancouver, George never forgot his roots or those hard-scrabble days on the farm.

After graduating from Burnaby South High School, George joined his brother Orville in working at a logging camp on Vancouver Island. During WWII, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and trained at a Military Wireless School in Montreal. It was during the war that George met his future wife, Jocelyn Hill-Tout, at a dance held at the (then) new YMCA building on Burrard Street. After the war, they married and eventually built their family home on Koala Court in Burnaby, BC, where they raised their five children.

George was a wonderful provider for his family. He and Jocelyn created a loving and nurturing home environment, where critical, independent thought and education were highly valued. The 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s were certainly ‘interesting times’, which often made for very lively dinner conversations.

‘Big G - little o’, as he was affectionately called by his children, was a lifelong entrepreneur, having successfully owned and operated a number of small businesses over his working life. At one time or another, all of his five children worked for him in one or more of his enterprises.

George enjoyed his leisure time golfing and was a member of the Seymour Golf Club in North Vancouver. George coached his two sons in Little League and his eldest daughter in Women’s Fastball. When he retired from coaching and golfing, playing bridge and other card games satisfied his competitive nature. Jocelyn passed away in 1993. In 1996, George married Marjorie Faye, his beloved partner and companion throughout his remaining years.

George was predeceased by his daughter Carol, and siblings Beryl, Shirley, Crystal, and Raymond. He leaves behind his wife Faye and children Marilyn, Kenneth, Gordon, and Barbara, his brother Orville, five grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends.

As George often remarked, he had ‘a wonderful life’. A celebration of his life will be held on May 12, 2015 at Deer Lake United Church, 5135 Sperling Avenue, Burnaby, BC from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the “Robert Lee YMCA” in Vancouver.