April 7, 1925 - December 23, 2018
Hubert (BERT) Clifton Townsend, a long-time resident of Pouce Coupe and Dawson Creek, passed away December 23, 2018 at Creekside Landing in Vernon, BC.
Born April 7, 1925 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he grew up in the Alberta Peace River country, before moving across the border to BC in the 1940s. Bert and wife, Glenna Evelyn (nee Barringham) celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on April 10, 2018.
Bert is survived by his wife Glenna, and their five sons; Gerry (Liz), Stan (Lynda), Les (Cindy), Vern (Violeta)
and Ted. He is also survived by sisters Geraldine (Cy) McNinch, Shirley Ross, Barb Harris, Betty (Dennis) Praud, brother Bill (Edwina) Townsend and step brother Bryan Townsend, several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Bert is predeceased by his parents Clifton Townsend and Frances (nee Bates), sisters Iola Wardle, Selina McLaren and Marlene (Keith) Hageman.
Bert had many careers, including being a long haul truck driver on the Alaska Highway and many years as a mechanic and shop foreman at Aspol Motors in Dawson Creek. His final working years were in the welding program at Northern Lights College, where he was well loved by the students and faculty and also served as a union representative. Outside of work, he owned and managed a number of rental homes in Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe for over two decades and took pride in being a tough, but fair landlord, offering quality rental homes to his tenants.
Bert was gregarious and a friend of many as he always had stories to tell and jokes to share. He loved playing cards and billiards and most notably was a crib player extraordinaire, winning many tournaments and recording a few 29 hands. A long-time member of the Dawson Creek Elks Club, later he became very active in the Dawson Creek Senior's Hall, taking on a number of volunteer roles. He also organized an annual crib tournament at the Dawson Legion for a number of years.
Post retirement, he became an avid golfer and a member of the Dawson Creek Golf and Country Club, where his cart was often found parked at the side of the fairway, while he was off scavenging for his fellow members' lost balls.
Off now on another adventure.
A Family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.