June 28, 1926 – April 24, 2017
Donald Alexander Hood was born in Calgary, Alberta in 1926 to parents Robert and Minnie. He was the youngest of four children, having two sisters Frances and Helen and an older brother Robert. On his 18th birthday he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy, where he served for almost two years and was trained as a wireless operator. After his discharge at the end of the war he attended the University of Alberta, graduating in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He then worked for Standard Brands in Calgary where he met and married his wife of sixty-three years, Thora Saville. They moved to B.C. where he worked for Crown Zellerbach, first in Ocean Falls, then in Campbell River until he retired.
He was an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion #137 and served for many happy years in their pipe band. The highlight of his year was the Robbie Burns Night. He was also a lifetime member of the Elks and Eagles Lodges. Don loved to “Sunday drive” and spent almost every summer after retirement camping at various locations including Miracle Beach, Gosling Bay and well into his eighties at the Quinsam. His friends all enjoyed reading his many erudite letters to the editor of the local paper.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife and siblings and survived by his four children Susan (Paul Reilly), Donna Volkart (Ed), Sharon Martin (Steve) and beloved son Richard (fiancée Diane Stack), four grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Don passed away peacefully April 24th surrounded by his loving family. A modest fun-loving man with a great sense of humour who loved to laugh, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. In keeping with his wishes there will not be a funeral, however, a memorial service will be held at the Legion on Friday May 26th at 1:00 PM and anyone wishing to pay their respects is welcome.