Russell Glen Garry passed away on November 25th, 2002 at the age of 86 with wife, Lucy, and daughter, Elaine by his side. Glen leaves to mourn, his wife, Lucy, (just celebrated their 60th anniversary); children: Bob (Marie), San Jose, Costa Roca; Diane, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Donald (Bettina), Kelowna; Elaine, Abbotsford; 12 grandchildren and 1 great grandaughter. He is also survived by his brother Evan and sisters Charlotte and Velma; many nieces and nephews.
Glen was born in Hamilton, Ontario on January 18, 1916, first child of Arthur & Ellen Garry. The family moved to Saskatchewan, where Glen grew up in the Neville area and attended Minot School. He trained in the RCMP Academy in Regina in 1939 and was posted to Nova Scotia, where he met and fell in love with Lucy. They were married on October 20, 1942.
He joined the RCAF and was posted as a compass adjuster on Liberators and eventually was demobilized from Comox AFB in May 1946. He attended UBC while Lucy supported the family, as a Nurse at Grace Hospital in Vancouver. He graduated in 1949 with a degree in Agriculture. He worked for the B.C. Government Soil survey in the Fraser Valley, then the B.C. Electric, which eventually became B.C. Hydro. At the ripe old age of 45 he decided to change careers again, and returned to UBC to get his teaching degree. He taught in Abbotsford and Mission until he was 63 when he took early retirement due to a hearing loss.
An old colleague from UBC, Don Duncan, called him up and asked him to work with him as an enviromental consultant on oil pipeline projects in Ontario, which he did until age 68.
In retirement, Glen and Lucy enjoyed extensive travelling, going to Scotland Australia and many trips down south with the Snowbirds and one up to the Artic Circle. Their 50th wedding anniversary was spent on a month long cruise down the eastern seaboad through the Panama Canal.
Glen was fortunate to live a long life and although he suffered from osteoarthritis and had both hips replaced and one knee, you seldom heard him complain.
In July 2001 he had his first stroke, which he bravely fought and recovered considerably from, only to have another just after his 86th birthday this past year. He maintained his dignity and sense of humour to the end. He will be dearly missed by his loving family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of B.C., 121 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C., V6H 3V2.
A Memorial Tea will be held at St. Andrew's Place common room, 7365 Cedar St., Mission, on Sunday, Dec. 1st from 2 - 4p.m.