The best thing about getting old is that you didn't die young. Continual prompting by my comely, long suffering wife Doreen, causes me to write my own obituary. Therefore I am telling you that I tried not to pass peacefully (as 99 percent obits mention) to join my erstwhile loved ones in heaven, hell, the emerald city or that choir invisible. Being of rational mind I tried to hang around as long as I could, knowing that I'm not going anywhere else - the reason being that I am a dead atheist and they are persona non grata anywhere.
I did not belong to any of the innumerable, fear-mongering, holier than thou religions which plague our planet and cause the majority of society's problems. I died from complications of pneumonia on May 13, 2018. No ceremony by request.
In 1940 I qualified as junior Marine Radio Officer and sailed on merchant ships, losing three to enemy action. In 1943, I studied radar for the Royal Navy and spent the rest of the war on naval landing craft. Following further marine electronic studies, I continued sailing on British ships until I became a test engineer on high power service radar apparatus. In 1952, I came to Canada and sailed with Foundation Maritime, Halifax, on ocean going salvage tugs as radio man and technician. A career in that field followed, mostly on Federal Oceanographic ships in Newfoundland and on the West Coast. My career ended with retirement from BC Ferries "Queen of the North" in March of 1985.
Fate has allowed me a long and pleasant retirement, with the query that it has kept me so busy I cannot imagine how I ever had time to work. I will be lovingly remembered and never forgotten by my wife of 25 years, Doreen Marchant, and in lieu of grief, I would like her memories to be of the happy times we shared, the trips and cruises we made and of our widespread travels.
I also leave behind my son John Edward; grandson Ted; Doreen's sons: Chris (Karen), Scott (Jenifer) and Jay; sisters: Jill and Judy; brothers: Tony and Colin and former wife Heather. I am predeceased by my second wife Yvonne.
Condolences may be offered online at www.sandsduncan.ca.