George McQueen was born on January 23rd, 1926 in Meerut, India and it is with regret that we announce his sudden passing on March 12th, 2016 in the Shuswap Lake General Hospital, Salmon Arm, B.C. at the age of 90 years.
George is survived by his wife, Joann Goldthorpe; his four children, Margaret (Matt) McLenehan of Lumby, B.C., Janet McQueen of Victoria, B.C., Alistair McQueen of Binche, B.C. and James (Lorie Srivastava) McQueen of Vancouver, B.C.; six grandchildren, Loughlin McQueen of Vernon, B.C., Grayson Lepp of Grande Prairie, Alberta, Brandon Lepp of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Shawn (Candice) Linklater of Edmonton, Alberta, Alex (Christina Drewes) Linklater of Calgary, Alberta and Ilina McQueen of Vancouver, B.C.; and three great-grandchildren, Abigail and Addison Linklater of Edmonton, Alberta and Ayla Linklater of Calgary, Alberta. He was preceded in death by his first wife Janet, to whom he was married for 57 years; and his sister, Caroline.
Our father, grandfather and great-grandfather lived a full and adventurous life. He joined the British Army (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Princess Louise’s) in 1944, serving in India, Malaysia and Korea. While in Korea, he took ill and was sent to a Commonwealth Military Hospital in Kure, Japan. There he met his future bride, Nurse Janet Loughlin McMorland. They were married in 1952. Dad resigned from the British Army and he and Mom moved to Canada, where he enlisted in the Canadian Army (Black Watch, Royal Highland Regiment). During this time he fathered four children, served with the UN Peace Keepers in India / Pakistan, Kashmir and the Middle East. He retired from the Army with the rank of Major in October 1977. In 1978, Dad, Mom and their youngest child, James, moved from Winnipeg to Lumby. There he was active in the community, serving as a School Board Trustee and Chairman. He was also very involved in the Lumby Royal Canadian Legion Branch #167, serving on the Executive and enjoying many lively games of shuffleboard and darts with his friends.
Cremation preceded a Celebration of George’s Life which will be held at the Lumby Royal Canadian Legion on Saturday, March 19th, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. with Reverend Lily Watson officiating.
As an expression of sympathy, those who wish to do so may send donations in memory of George to the B.C. Heart & Stroke Foundation, #4 - 1551 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 9M9.
Funeral arrangements have been made with BETHEL FUNERAL CHAPEL LTD., 5605 - 27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8Z5 • 250-542-1187