Vaughn Olmstead
Olmstead, Captain Vaughn Edward, aged 89 years, went into the
arms of his Lord peacefully at home in the presence of his son, wife,
and friends, on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. A son of the
late Rev. Claude Olmstead and Mrs. Hazel Casey Olmstead, Vaughn was
born in Corning, New York, and spent his early years in New York
State, Ohio, Belleville, ON, Elgin and Black’s Harbour, NB,
Caledonia and Port Wade, NS, before joining the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, in which he remained for four and one-half years. He
then resigned better to pursue a career in aviation.
In 1954, Vaughn moved to Blind River, ON, and spent two years
flying as a bush pilot for Lau-Goma Airways, at the time of the
« uranium rush », initially flying a DH.83 Fox Moth,
and later, Stinson Reliants, SR 9 and SR 10s, and the Noorduyn
Norsemen. He married his sweetheart, Dorothy Taylor, of NS,
in April of 1954. In 1956 Vaughn began flying for Mont
Laurier Aviation, and the couple moved to Roberval, QC, later to
Pointe Claire, QC, and finally to Hawkesbury, ON.
Mt. Laurier Aviation became Nordair which after many years
became part of Canadian Airlines International Limited. He
retired off the Boeing 767 on January 1, 1991. He
had also flown the de Havilland Beaver, Canso, DC-3, DC-4, Curtis
C-46, Lockheed Super Constellation, and stretch DC 8 among other
aircraft, with a special liking for the Boeing 737.
Vaughn had an adventurous career. He flew gas
caches as far north as land goes in North America for the first land
survey of the Arctic islands, flying a DC 3 on skis. Several
hours from any rescue teams, in -40 degree weather, without radar or
GPS, he landed on sea ice, snow-covered dry riverbeds, and other
unknown surfaces, praying that God would keep him safe from rocks and
glacial debris. He always flew the DEW-line and medical
evacuation flights and took fur-traders into northern
Quebec. In later years he flew to Africa, the U. S., the
Caribbean and regularly to Europe, but his fondest memories were of
the northern flying.
Vaughn became an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and with Don
Power founded a company for light aircraft maintenance and
restoration. He owned his Piper PA-12 Supercruiser since
1974 and flew it last in May of this year. He and friend Lou
Goodwin made several northern trips teaching pilots skills for
northern flying and survival. Vaughn gave freely of his time
to help others with their aircraft projects and teach them from his
wealth of skill and experience, in aviation, plumbing, electrical work
and carpentry. He was often sought-after to do slide
presentations.
Vaughn was a high-energy, generous person, a dedicated and
delightful husband and father, and a faithful Christian and member of
Lakeside Heights Baptist Church, and later, Vankleek Hill Baptist
Church. He was a keen Bible Study small-group member and
often a trustee. In earlier years he was active in the
Masonic Lodge and the Shriners. Vaughn also enjoyed
photography, scuba-diving, hunting, fishing, reading and music, and
had a natural curiosity about many things, which added to his
charisma. He experienced and exuded a triple measure of joy
in the simplest things, gratitude to his God, and affection for
others, to the blessing of those of all ages who knew him.
He was truly a humble, gentle, yet magnetic
personality.
Vaughn was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy, son
Eric and infant brother, Robert. He is survived by his
second wife, Elizabeth Waugh-Olmstead, his son Phillip,
daughter-in-law Katherine, grandchildren Isaac, (Lisa), Andrew, and
Jessica Johnston (Joel), his dearly loved great-grandchildren,
brothers James (Ruth) of NS, and David (Elizabeth) of NB.
Due to the current circumstances a Private Family Service will be held
on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 1:00 pm at the Vankleek Hill Baptist
Church with Pastor Scott Sadlier officiating. Family and friends are
invited to view the live webcast of the Service via the link
youtu.be/RX_sAYdI2Bk.
The committal will be at a later date in Port Wade,
NS. Donations in memory of Vaughn, may be made to the
Gideons or the Vankleek Hill Baptist Church PO Box 161 Vankleek Hill,
ON K0B 1R0.
Hillcrest Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
(www.hillcrestfuneralhome.ca)
2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Vaughn Olmstead 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick