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Graham Woodward passed away peacefully in Courtenay on May 26, 2018 at the age of 94 with his daughter Trish at his side. He was predeceased by his 5 siblings, his wife Gwyn Frayne, his grandson Nikoya Fitzpatrick and is survived by his daughters Trish Greer and Lois Roy of Vancouver, his step children Ewan, Sean, Shona, his step grand children Ryan, Matthew, Lyssandre, Maxine, Stephanie, Christal, Keane and Lara, and his step great grandchild Anika.

Graham led an exceptional life and was a true intellect. He proudly served in the Canadian Navy for 7 years in WWII during which time he met and married his first wife Joyce in Ireland in 1948 and moved to Canada shortly after. Following this, he joined the RCAF where he served for 16 years. During his service, he was stationed in Metz, France for 4 years. He returned to Canada and retired from the Air Force in Courtenay in 1963. Soon after, he started his own electrical contracting business following which he joined CUSO where he taught the electrical trade in Papua New Guinea for 2 years.

Returning to Canada and wishing to improve his french, he moved to Montreal where he met and married Gwyn Frayne, his wife of 30 years. After several years in Montreal, they returned to BC to settle in the Comox Valley together.

Graham was an honorary life-time member fo the Courtenay Little Theatre. He was also made an honorary life-time member of the Filberg Lodge & Park Association, for which he had served on the Board of Directors for ten years. He was also an active member of the Courtenay Tennis Club, the Francophone Association and the Cancer Society. After retiring, Graham took up cooking and baking, making the most incredible soups, pies and bread, and doing the daily crossword puzzles. He was also a life long opera and classical music enthusiast and for years would travel to see live opera in Vancouver. When travel became more difficult, he began attending Live at the Met on the big screen in Courtenay.

Thank you to all the VIHA caregivers and doctor Gee for their care and support and a special thank you to Lee Hughes who provided exceptional care and love and enabled him to remain living in his home that he cherished.

In lieu of flowers, people are asked to donate to the Canadian Cancer Society.

There will be a celebration of his life at the Florence Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, 61 Filberg Road, Comox, BC on Saturday, July 21st, from 2:00 - 4:00 PM.



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