June 11, 1946 - October 27, 2020
Richard David Little was born in the Cumberland Hospital on June 11, 1946 - the same month as Vancouver Island's historic earthquake.
He had an early love of cars and mechanics. As a boy, he helped out in his dad's service station in Cumberland, and later, with his father, ran the Shell station in Royston.
Richard went on to wear many occupational hats. After studying bookkeeping, he worked with a chartered accountant in Nanaimo, and then as a bookkeeper for the Canadian Fishing Company in Vancouver. He was subsequently promoted to Office Manager and transferred first to Prince Rupert, and then to Steveston. Richard later became a credit manager for Firestone Tire in New Westminster and then Victoria, and an agent for Revenue Canada.
Richard met his wife Wanda in 1966, and boats and water and fishing were always a big part of their lives. While he was working with Revenue Canada, Richard did some stints as a deckhand, fishing on his father-in-law's commercial boat off Haida Gwaii. In 1985, Richard decided to abandon the nine-to-five, bought the Catherine Tamera, and so began his career as a fisher.
By 1991, Richard, Wanda, their two sons, and the Catherine Tamera were back in the Comox Valley. Richard eventually retired from fishing, but remained a fixture at the docks, working on marine electrical systems, and eventually as a boat broker with Wills Marine.
Predeceased by his father William David (1993), his mother Marjorie Jovina (2019), and his eldest grandson Bruce (2019), Richard is survived by his wife of 52 years, his brothers Ted (Hitu) and John, sons David (Cheryl) and Matthew (Crystal), grandchildren Savannah, Loë, Noah, Coral, and Lochlan, great-grandchild Isaiah, sister-in-law Shelley (Jack) and nephew Royce, niece Sherri (Alan), and their children Brandon and Kai.
Special thanks to our good friends Phil, Vic, and Glen; and our appreciation to the many doctors and nurses who cared for Richard during his illness.