John Gilbert
Obituary
published in the Penticton Herald on October 10, 2012
Albert (Al) Henry Miller, our
father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend passed away peacefully in his
sleep in the early hours of October 1st, surrounded by his loving family; son
Glenn, daughter Kate, son-inlaw Bob and dear family friend, Ona.
Al was born to
Joyce and William Miller, both recent immigrants from London, England, in
Fruitland, Ont. In 1926, when he was ten, the family crossed Canada by train and
bought a farm near Victoria, which they lost a year later due to unfortunate
circumstances and legal fine print. They then moved to Vancouver, where his
father found work on the construction of the new Lions Gate Bridge.
Al grew up in
Vancouver through the depression and, although life was sometimes difficult, he
found ways to help his family collecting firewood and roller skating up and down
Granville Street selling newspapers.
During this period he developed a passion for the newly
developing field of radio.
At 17, he received his amateur radio license, VE7KC which set the
course for the rest of his life, and he soon turned his passion into a career in
the newly burgeoning technology of aircraft radio directional finding. Among
many firsts, he was involved in the installation of the first Instrument Landing
Systems (ILS) in BC at both the Vancouver and Victoria International Airports.
He married
Margaret in 1940 and they lived in Victoria for a year where he worked for
Spencer's Dept. Store
repairing radios.
His career took him to work
on the William J. Stewart Hydrographic Survey Ship as the radio operator, and
then with the D.O.T (NAV CANADA) in Crescent Valley, Vancouver, Sidney,
Penticton, Frobisher Bay, NWT, and finally back to Penticton in 1966.
He and Marg
loved the Okanagan Valley and made it their home for the rest of their lives.
Even after retirement, Al's sense of adventure had him taking short term jobs in
Contwoyto Lake, NWT, for PWA, and, with Marg, as a relief Forestry Lookout on
Mt. Kobau near Osoyoos. Al and Margaret loved to travel and after an early
retirement they traveled to the UK several times, as well as Europe, Australia
and New Zealand where he always made a point of meeting up with his world wide
circle of Ham friends.
In 2001 he
traveled to Shanghai, China, to visit two of his grandchildren who were living
there, and in 2008, at age 92, he joined his family in a final winter vacation
to Mexico. Al gave much to his community, volunteering his time and talents. He
was an avid member and supporter of the
Penticton Amateur Radio
Club, the Seniors
Computer Club (where he taught an introductory course), the South Okanagan
Genealogical Society and a long time member of both Kiwanis and Shrine. He
served on the Penticton Beautification Committee and volunteered for 39 of the
40 years of Penticton Ironman, missing only this past year due to illness.
Al lived a long
and full life, and his friendly smile and keen interest in the world will be
dearly missed by his many friends and family. He has left us all with an
abundance of cherished memories of his love of life. He was predeceased by his
wife and best friend, Margaret in 2004.
He is survived
by his son Glenn (Diane) of Vernon, his daughter Kate (Bob) of North Saanich,
long time family friend and honorary daughter Ona, grandchildren: Kirsten,
Meghan, Robin, Scott, Brent, Sheilagh and Christine, and great grandchildren:
Brandon, Mathew, Alexis, Ethan, Ben, Connor, Emma and Isaac.
The family would
like to extend their gratitude to the exceptional care our father received from
Dr. R. McIntosh, the Palliative Home Care team of nurses and caregivers, as well
as from the 3rd floor Medical/Day Care Surgery staff at PRH, where he received
his transfusions. We are especially grateful to Laurie for her care and
kindness. A Remembrance Celebration of Al's Life will be held on October 20th at
2:00pm at Everden Rust, 1130 Carmi Ave., Penticton. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be sent to Penticton & District Hospice Society, PO Box 1105,
Penticton, BC, V2A 6J9
