SHILLINGTON, H. L. "Lyle": 1918-2015. Lyle passed away peacefully, with family by his side, on April 13th in Kelowna, BC, in his 97th year. The Saskatchewan Roughriders have lost their biggest fan. Lyle was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. Always smiling and welcoming, he was an admired and devoted friend and a respected and trusted colleague during his long career and many years of volunteer service. Lyle was predeceased in 2010 by his wife and best friend of 65 years, Pearl (Kilburn). He was also predeceased by his parents Russell and Ellen, brothers Howard, Wilbur, Norman and Don, and sister Patricia. He leaves behind a loving and proud family: sons and daughters-in-law Brian and Merry (Stampe) of Kelowna, and Tom and Nanci (Burns) of Ottawa, ON; grandchildren Reid, Scott, Heather and Duncan; brother Gordon, of Saskatoon; and many nieces and nephews. Born in Delisle, Saskatchewan, Lyle grew up and worked hard on the family farm with his brothers - a time that was the source of many happy memories and much laughter in later years. That Saskatchewan farm boy remained a big part of who he was for his entire life. He volunteered for WW II service in 1939. As a RCAF Sergeant, he was initially posted to London, England and later was in the North African and Italian campaigns. Returning to Canada at war's end, his final posting was to Vancouver, where he met and married Pearl, who was also from a small Saskatchewan town. Lyle spent his working career with Marshall Wells, a hardware and home furnishings company. New opportunities took the young family to Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Kelowna, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Each stop offered new challenges, but also new friendships and memories. In their retirement, Pearl and Lyle enjoyed many happy, active years in 108 Mile Ranch, BC, later moving back to Saskatoon for seven years and then to Kelowna in 2005. Lyle was an avid sportsman all his life, from playing hockey on Saskatchewan sloughs with future NHL Hall of Famers, to golfing, curling, fishing and hunting, especially at their beloved "home in the woods" at 108 Mile. He also believed in giving back to his community - he was one of a handful of young fathers who built the first hockey rinks and baseball diamonds in the then-new neighborhood of Montgomery Place in Saskatoon in the 1950s. Later, in retirement at 108 Mile and Saskatoon, he was very active in the Lion's Club, promoting programs in support of safe and healthy schools, an effort for which he received a Lifetime Recognition Award from the Lion's Club International President. In Kelowna, he enjoyed many years of dancing, gardening, bingo nights and conversation with good friends at the Sandalwood Retirement Community Residence. He and Pearl were outstanding dancers, hailing from the era of Big Band music. It seemed to him as if a Glenn Miller tune heard on the radio was wasted unless he was dancing to it. His family takes special joy from knowing that he was dancing, and smiling, at Sandalwood's most recent Valentine's Day dance. The family would like to thank the staff and Lyle's many friends at Sandalwood for helping to keep him so young at heart over the years, and the staff of Brandt's Creek Mews for their warm and attentive care of Lyle in his final days. A memorial service will be held in Saskatoon at a future date. Interment will be in the Shillington Family plot at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon. Condolences and remembrances can be forwarded to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Lyle's memory to a charity of choice. Arrangements entrusted with First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, BC, 250-762-2299.
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