August 12, 1954—March 29, 2016
Our dear dad, grandfather, son, brother, husband, and friend, Gordon William White, of Campbell River, BC, died at St Paul’s hospital the evening of March 29th, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Deborah; parents, Larry and Patricia; brothers Brad (Margaret) and Dan (Maureen); brother-in-law Danny; children Cameron (Jade), Jessica (Warren), Spencer, Raewyn (Jason), and Allie (Malloreigh); and grandchildren Matt, Cassy, Stella, Oliver, and Wyatt.
Gord was born at Burnaby General Hospital in the early morning of August 12th, 1954. He was the middle of three boys and had an active childhood and adolescence. He started baseball and soccer at age five and had his first job at Brentwood Lanes bowling alley at age seventeen. Gord continued to enjoy baseball throughout his life, playing over twenty years on the Panziera Brickmon slo-pitch team, and coaching several youth teams to the Provincial level. He was also a golfer and overall sports enthusiast, who was thrilled to be in the stands for the Lions’ Grey Cup win in 2011.
We may never know what compelled Gord and Deborah to bring their five children on their trans-American honeymoon, but we suspect it was Gord’s love of driving, traveling, and being a dad. Over his life Gord went on several road trips, the biggest one spanning eight states and two provinces. He and Deborah frequented Hawaii and Mexico with numerous groupings of family and friends, and explored the culture, wine, food, side streets and main attractions of France, Italy, and Spain in two separate trips in 2011 and 2015. He also became interested in photography in his retirement and captured many beautiful scenes and moments from vacations and special occasions in recent years.
Gord retired in 2010 after a long and fulfilling career with BC Hydro. He started as a meter reader in the Lower Mainland at age nineteen. His career took him to Salmon Arm and Fernie, and he eventually settled in Campbell River in 1988 where he worked at the district office as a Design Technician. He was also certified to witness official document signings, proudly wearing the title “Commissioner Gordon.”
Many caring, kind people have asked how they can help, and to everyone we ask this, please: when you wake up in the morning and hear birds outside your window, think of Gord. When you go snorkelling somewhere tropical, think of Gord. When you yell about televised sports to no one in particular, recognize an obscure song on the radio, or tell a joke that makes everyone groan, think of Gord.
A service will be held at the Maritime Heritage Centre on April 23rd, 2016, at 2pm. Flowers gratefully declined. Donations can be made to the charity of your choice. Or, just do something nice for someone: give a friend a ride, hold a door for a stranger, slip your kid a twenty. It’s what he would have done.