Donald Wood

Don passed away very peacefully on the evening of October 18 with his wife and daughters by his side. After suffering with Alzheimer's for many years, Don's heart remained strong to the end.

Don was born in 1941 in Bengough, Saskatchewan to Marjorie and James Wood, prairie schoolteachers. They moved to Prince Albert where Don met Gail McEwen in high school and they married in 1965. Sandy and Susan were born in Prince Albert in 1968 and 1969 respectively. Don was an accountant at NorCanAir and was involved in Scouts and Cosmos. He enjoyed hiking, cross-country skiing, curling and fishing and canoeing at the lake.

In 1984, the family moved to Coquitlam, BC, where Don worked for Greenleaf Garden Supplies in Burnaby. Don continued to curl and fly-fish and he joined the North Shore Hikers. A true outdoorsman, "Camper Don" loved trekking his way around BC's beautiful hiking trails.

Don retired in 1999 after experiencing memory problems. He and Gail then enjoyed camping, traveling the world, and spending time with their grandchildren. Don moved to the Madison Care Home in Coquitlam in January of 2010 due to advancing Alzheimers.

Don leaves behind wife Gail of 47 years, daughters Sandy Pitkethly (Graham Prouse) of Chilliwack, and Susan (Eliot) Simpson of Hong Kong, grandchildren Jared and Campbell Pitkethly, Emma and Phoebe Simpson, sisters Carol McCowan, Marilyn (Lew) Adkins, nieces Karen (Kevin), Melissa, Melanie and Lily, nephews James and Nolan, aunt Maisie Peterson, step-brother John Arbuthnott, step-sisters Maggie McCann and Marjorie Ballentyne, the Prouse family, the Pitkethly family and countless friends. Don was predeceased by his mother Marjorie, his father James, his step-father John Arbuthnott and his uncle Orville Peterson.

All who knew him say he was a true gentleman.

Don's celebration of life will take place on Thursday, October 25 at 2pm at Como Lake United Church, 535 Marmont Street in Coquitlam.


If you wish, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Society.