Arthur "Bud" David Irving

It is with deep sadness and a peaceful heart that we announce the passing of our Dad, Arthur David Irving (Bud).

After an incredible life well lived and a diagnosis of Dementia at the age of 76, our oh so brave Dad took his last breath at the age of 82 years on Friday, March 31, 2023. Dad has been in the care of Evergreen Campus of Care during the last almost 4 years, and we would be remiss not thank and acknowledge with sincere admiration and utmost gratitude the incredible staff of Evergreen Baptist. The care and needs they have provided Dad during his time there has been nothing but the best, and the compassion provided to us during this difficult time was appreciated beyond words. On behalf of our family we thank you sincerely.

Dad is survived by the love of his life, his wife, our Mom, Bev Irving, his two daughters, Joanne (Eric) Parry, Karen (John) Wheeler and his four granddaughters, better known to ‘Papa’ as his Little Rascals, Kelsey, Courtney (Jens), Brooke (Camila) and Jessica. He leaves behind his beloved sister, Barbara (Hugh) Govett, sister-in-law Irene Yacucha, brother-in-law Larry (Mary) Yacucha, cousins and numerous nieces and nephews who all held an extremely special place in his heart.

Dad was preceded in death by his father, David Irving and mother, Eva Morna Irving (née Hooper).

Bud was born in Vancouver, BC and grew up as a young boy enjoying nothing more than the outdoors and playing sports with his good chums who fondly gave him the name “Buddy”. We can recall many stories of soccer and baseball where in the end he of course often appeared to be the ‘superstar’. In his adult years golf became his sport of choice however he never turned down an opportunity to play a game of ball with his granddaughters!

As he grew older, Buddy turned to Bud, a name he was both fond of and proud of and it stuck with him to his final day.

Dad started his working career as a paperboy, and like everything Dad did he did it with pride. At the age of 16 Dad started his lengthy career with the railway taking on his first official role as ‘Box Car Cleaner’. He did it so well he was quickly recognized as a go-getter, a hard worker and what some would call a keener and he very soon began to advance his career. It was when he landed his position in the Ticket Office at the Vancouver CNR Train station where his life would change forever!!

The Ticket Office was where he met the love of his life, our Mom, Bev!! While enroute from San Francisco back home she caught his eye and stole his heart all in one afternoon. After what was a ‘short’ long distance relationship they married and soon thereafter started their family.

Dad enjoyed his career with the Railway and continued to climb the corporate ladder. His career took our family from Vancouver to Saskatoon, then onto Winnipeg and back to Vancouver where he always said, when he landed his feet back West he would plan his retirement where it all began, and he did just that. In 1993 after 37 years of service he took early retirement holding the title of Manager International Sales with VIA Rail. It was this same year that he welcomed his first two granddaughters, Kelsey and Courtney, and WOW what a year that was! He quickly switched gears from Corporate executive to Papa in charge and loved and embraced every moment of it.

Retirement consisted of caring for his granddaughters every opportunity he could and in particular Kelsey as she lived close by. Papa couldn’t resist any and every chance he got to be with her! When she wasn’t around, his interest was absorbed in his Chevy’s and his new found love and newly claimed interest in ‘antique automobile memorabilia’. This passion took Mom and Dad on many adventures throughout the United States and Canada and brought with it some pretty incredible items and even more interesting stories. His collection grew, as did the many treasured friendships they created along the way. Nothing brought him more joy than to sit at his bar in ‘Bud’s World’ while listening to Jim Reeves on his record player or maybe ‘Honeycomb’ on his juke box all while sharing stories of his collection and the adventures he had in acquiring it. If you were ever so lucky enough to sit at his bar, you know just what I’m talking about!

Dad could best be described as a very particular and proper man, a true and loyal friend, a perfect gentleman and the World’s Greatest Papa!!! He was a man of many words and more often than not it was his way or the highway! This served him well over the years until in his 76th year of life when he was diagnosed with Dementia. His world changed rapidly and the steady and fast decline took him to a place he feared most of all, not being able to recognize or communicate with his family!

The journey has been a difficult one to say the least. There is nothing worse than watching your loved one, the incredible strong man you adore, the one person you go to and turn to for advice, your biggest fan and cheerleader, the man you admire despite the differences we all have with our loved ones over the years, fade away before you.

Our Dad is a man that lived his life on his terms, and he lived it to the fullest. He celebrated the victories big, small and otherwise. He was proud of all that he achieved in his career, as we all were. And for a man that never did graduate high school being short one credit, his English credit, he became a remarkable writer and storyteller. And if he knew that we shared that he didn’t graduate, well… maybe he would forgive us? He was a true example of what hard work despite setbacks could accomplish. He took pride in his work, his home, and more than anything he took pride in his family. His greatest love is and always will be our Mom, but almost as equally he loved his family to the core.

He will be missed beyond words, but will forever live on in the hearts of each one of us. We will carry with us our own treasured memories and lessons instilled in us from our Dad, Papa, and Bud!

Rest in peace Dad, the struggle is over.

Godspeed

There will be no funeral service. To watch a tribute through pictures, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i71rWOntJ3I

In lieu of flowers the family requests that a donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or a charity of choice.