November 22, 1937 - November 16, 2020
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of David Arthur Williams, at the age of 82, just one week before his birthday. He passed away on a walk, just a block from his home in Surrey, BC.
David Arthur Williams was born in Trail, BC to Norah Margaret (nee Millar) and Fred Earl Williams. He was the eldest son of three boys; nine years older than his brother Robert Earl and 11 years older than his brother Roger.
David was raised on the family farm at Alice Siding, near Creston, BC, and the family farmed the "flats" and raised mainly beef cattle as well as other field crops. At the farm house they had chickens, pigs, and a plentiful vegetable garden. David worked the farm with his father as a young boy; it was a hard life, especially at harvest time, but it was a very good life.
David graduated from high school and went on to pursue a geology degree at UBC Vancouver. During the summers he worked as a prospector in the Yukon.
On a trip to Vancouver Island, David met a beautiful young woman name Greta Hildegard Stahle, who he married on August 24, 1962 and enjoyed a loving and respectful marriage for 58 years, until his passing.
Also in 1962, David earned his teaching certificate from UBC and started teaching science and math in School District 36 (Surrey), where he retired as Vice-Principal in 1995. David went to summer school at Western Washington University and attained his master's degree in mathematics. When summer school was over, he would take his family to Creston to help his father with the harvest.
David and Greta moved to Surrey in 1964 and lived in the house for the remainder of his life. They had three sons: Ken, Stephen, and John. In 1969, David raised their single-story family home and built the bottom floor himself.
Spending time together as a family was very important to David, and he also loved the outdoors. Some memorable family holidays included: an eight-week summer trip across Canada, a six-week summer trip through the western US, and numerous trips to Creston in the summer and for Christmas.
During his retirement, David and Greta travelled the world: Iceland, Antarctica, Europe, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Africa, by airplane, train or cruise ship. At home he loved to garden, whether it was toiling in his abundant vegetable garden or creating his beautiful flower gardens.
He also loved to play bridge and was an avid curler, playing recently on two seniors curling teams. In addition he loyally cared for his wife Greta as her health declined.
David is survived by his loving wife Greta; his three sons, Ken (Kimberly), Stephen (Christine), and John (Patti); eight grandchildren: Tiffany (Sam), Jasper (Janay), Alan (Jayme), Erica (Devon), Adrianna, Emily, Joshua, and Nathaniel; and two great-children, Walker and Layne.
He was predeceased by his parents, Fred (1987) and Norah (2013); and his brothers, Robert Earl (2014) and Roger (2017).
A memorial service was held on December 4, 2020 with David's immediate family at the Avalon Surrey Funeral Home, and his remains were laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Burnaby, BC. The memorial service was live-streamed and can be viewed online.
Condolences and memories can be shared online through his obituary at:
https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/avalonsurrey
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada at:
https://www.heartandstroke.ca/