June 26, 1932 - March 7, 2023
In Loving Memory ~
With great sadness, the Harding family regretfully announces that David Edward Duffield-Harding, 90, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 after a prolonged illness.
David is survived by Faith, his wife of 64 years; children Jim (Cathy), Patricia, Pamela (Dan), and Kathie (Jon); seven grandchildren Ryan, John, Sarah (Chris), Madeline (Marshall), Jessica (Morten), Mary (Kiefer), and Peyton; one great-grandchild Connor; and two half-brothers Colin and Jeremy (England).
He was pre-deceased by his mother Nora, father George, half-sister Janet, granddaughter Rachel, and many friends, relatives, and former teammates, business partners, and colleagues.
David was born on June 26, 1932 in Carshalton, Surrey, England. At eight years old, he was one of many British children trained out of London to Oxford away from the Nazi blitz, while his mother remained to run a textiles factory despite the bombing. He cited John Boorman's 1987 movie Hope and Glory as the closest to his childhood experience during WWII.
He joined the British army in 1951 serving in the artillery and was stationed in Edinburgh for 2 years, narrowly missing a wartime posting to Korea. David worked briefly in advertising in London where he met Russell House and the two emigrated to Canada in 1953 to escape the bleakness of post-war Britain and landed in Vancouver, B.C., where he re-started in advertising for Communications Consultant and late former Senator, Ray Perreault.
In 1954, he came to Vernon, B.C. to work in graphics for Vernon Advertiser, boarding with "Ma & Pa" Couch, where he met his future "best man" Mike Lines and soon their gang of n'er-do-wells, Hank Farynuk, Brian Naylor, Blake Nolan and others.
He joined the local cricket club playing at Lakeview Park, was an avid tennis player, and with his buddies became an enthusiastic hockey fan - though he never skated! Altogether following the Vernon Canadians when they captured the Allan Cup in 1956 and later, Vernon's junior teams, especially the Vernon ESSO's.
David (Dave) met the love of his life, Faith Bruels, an RN, while playing tennis at the Vernon Country Club in the summer of 1957. They married April 26, 1958 after writing each other every day while Faith completed a post-Grad obstetrics course in Edmonton, AB that fall and winter.
They honeymooned in England that summer while their house on the East Hill was being built and where they have lived to this day. Together, they partnered at tennis and became prize-winning bowlers at both the old Del-Mar Lanes and Lincoln Lanes, even as the family additions arrived.
Dad will be remembered as a self-made man; a hard worker and a successful provider. He became a certified accountant, in-demand working for Steiner & Company, Vernon Machine and SP Seymour.
He later established Sunshine Homes to build houses with bowling partner Marv Zwarych; then returned to bookkeeping for Rennick Lumber, where he met Les Wenger and the two went out on their own, joined by Terry Lodge, as Trident Lumber Company / Tri-Co Planing Mills until his early "retirement" in 1980.
David came from an artistic lineage. Throughout his life, he was a painter, carpenter, gardener, model-builder, a collector, a fiction writer and amateur Bible scholar in retirement. He remained an avid hockey, football, baseball and tennis fan.
For his children, Dad was a commited "hockey parent" and road-trip driver, but also supported our school and artistic avocations.
Dad was also a compassionate dog lover, willing to give a caring new home to a stray cocker spaniel, or pets inherited from family members when their living situations changed. He will forever be remembered and sorely missed as a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather.
He took an active interest in his children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchild's many endeavours and accomplishments. His friends always said he had a huge heart and that his wife Faith was "the best thing to ever happen to him".
He was articulate in conversation, an avid reader with a sharp, wonderful sense of humour and gladly offered advice and guidance--welcomed or not, at the time! --but which will continue to echo through all our years.
The Harding Family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the caring support of Dr. Lindsay Pritchett and the care aides of Interior Health's Home & Community Care program over these three years of in-home palliative care.
In respecting Dad's wishes, a graveside service for family was held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Pleasant Valley Cemetery with interment to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC SPCA Vernon Branch.
Arrangements entrusted to Dignity Memorial Pleasant Valley Funeral Home Vernon, BC 250-542-4333