WHITE, James, G.: August 9, 1927 - July 12, 2015. WHITE, James George. Jim passed into eternal rest on July 12, 2015, in his 88th year, at Hospice House in Kelowna, BC. Born August 9, 1927 at Swansea, ON (Toronto), first child of James White Sr. and Vera Mashinter White; survived by daughter Laurie Carter (Bruce Kemp) of Westbank, BC; son Geoffrey (Kelly) of Peterborough, ON; siblings Frank, Vera (McMaster), Bob, Dick and Peter, all of Ontario. In addition Jim had three grandchildren: Brandie, Jordon and James: two great grandchildren, Alex and Sophie. Jim spent most of his early years in Northwestern Ontario and completed Grade 12 at Dryden High School before entering the navy at age 17 in 1945. Following discharge he graduated from the Provincial Institute of Mining in 1950. He met the love of his life, Barbara Eckersley, and the couple married in 1951 at Kitchener, ON. After mining at Malartic, QC, Jim enrolled in Engineering at the University of Toronto and, with Barb's support, graduated in 1960, BSc. Although a P.Eng., he chose a career in secondary education, teaching in Toronto and Woodstock, then serving as vice-principal at Orchard Park in Stoney Creek, and principal at both Waterdown and Orchard Park. When Jim retired in 1986, he turned to volunteerism. Together with Barbara, he worked tirelessly as the founding president of the Grimsby Auxiliary Marine Rescue Unit (GAMRU), a unit of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary. Jim was active as a director of the Auxiliary, producing and conducting training programs and handling safety inspections in addition to his work with GAMRU. In 1996, he and Barb settled in Sun Village, Westbank, BC, and Jim was able to indulge his passion for the outdoors as fisherman, hiker and snowshoer. When Barb was admitted to the Village at Smith Creek in 2008 (and Jim moved to Westwood Retirement Resort), he immediately became involved in life at VSC, participating in singalongs, serving meals to residents, taking an active role in support groups, growing tomatoes and geraniums for fundraisers and personally tending the Webber Community garden - even after Barbara's passing in 2014. Jim was an active member of St. George's Anglican Church, reading lessons, lending his rich bass to the music he loved and using his woodworking skills on various projects. He was well known for his ability to make or fix things and quietly generous with his time and resources in helping family and friends. Jim was a member of the CORD Emergency Plan Amateur Radio Team and refined his equipment and skills right up to his last camping trip. Many will remember Jim as the bushman who introduced them to our beautiful backcountry on trails he mapped and worked to maintain. He was a big man in every sense, a true Renaissance Man, interested in science, literature, music, engineering, nature and, most of all, people. Jim had a strong moral compass; he could be tough, but also fair and wise. The pain of his loss is softened by the wonderful memories Jim White gave to everyone who knew him. Service at St. George's Anglican Church, 3690 Brown Rd., West Kelowna at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 25, 2015. No flowers, please. Donations to the Central Okanagan Hospice Association would be appreciated.
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