Obituary
Paul’s life can almost be summed up with his security questions for his online banking
(Don’t worry – we have changed them now):
Q: “When did I grow old?”
A: “I didn’t”
Q: “Where can I find God?”
A: “Anywhere”
He was a religious man, but, like his security question implies, found God “anywhere” – rather than just inside the 4 walls of a church. He had a reverence for spirit and the connectedness of all things, especially in nature, and coupled that with an innate sense of silliness – a creative oddball sense of humour. He could be seen having a serious conversation with a duck about as often as he could with a human. As much as possible, he looked at life with a childlike sense of appreciation, and with Alzheimers it’s fitting because he didn’t “grow old” – in many ways he did grow younger before he passed.
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Paul passed away peacefully on November 8, 2021 at the Hamlets in Penticton in the presence of loved ones after a 4 year long struggle with Alzheimers. Predeceased by his brother Brian Dunlop. Remembered, sadly missed and living on in the hearts of his children Scott, Beth (Paul), Heather and Holly and his grandchildren – Riley, Ezra and Maisie Wren –
In his words (from a Facebook post) “Couldn’t be any more proud to be a father.. my kids have been and are the most profound loves of my life..!”
He is also missed by his siblings Joan (Bill) Charmbury and Bruce (Linda) Dunlop and his nieces and nephews.
Born to Wilson and Donna (Glaze) Dunlop in Kinistino, Saskatchewan, Paul grew up in the prairies. Prairie life taught him how to work hard, and how to play hard. For some years of his youth, “play” involved alcohol, drugs and partying, but he turned that around in 1972 when he joined AA, and then fell in love with and married Norma Coleman (who passed away in 2016), also from Kinistino. The two embarked on their life together and moved to Saskatoon for a spell, and eventually to a home that Paul built on 40 acres near Delisle, SK. It was there they raised their 4 children. Very involved in AA and with the Delisle Community Chapel, Paul taught Sunday school and led youth groups, and the Dunlops hosted many gatherings on their property – in the winter, these were the best! The only place around with a great hill for sledding, and a Paul-made skating rink in the bottom yard – plus a long driveway and a “back 40” to zip kids around on sleds behind the skidoo – and sometimes the Datsun! These years were full of lots of good times, including plenty of camping trips, round ups, lake days and star gazing, but of course hard work too with Paul on various job sites in Saskatoon, plus prairie/acreage life of gathering wood for the winters, gardening, maintenance and preserving.
And as life tends to do, Paul was thrown a curve ball on March 01, 1985, while working on a job site in Saskatoon. He took a fall from the top of a 25-foot power pole directly onto the ice below. He shattered his feet and broke both legs and left arm in that fall and was told he would never walk again. Well, long story short, he did walk again, and through WCB, attended the University of Saskatchewan to earn a Bachelor of Education Degree in 1988. After receiving his degree, instead of moving to pursue a teaching career, he and Norma chose to stay at the acreage rather than leave home, friends, and school. He then started doing electrical estimating and related office work in Saskatoon.
In 1992 when the kids were getting older, they sold the acreage and moved to Summerland BC. Paul continued with his electrical work, and in 1996 they moved again, this time to Victoria. This move only lasted a year, and they were back in the Okanagan, with Paul taking a year off work to build them a new home in Summerland. After Paul and Norma went their separate ways in 2005, Paul lived in Penticton, and then Victoria, and back to Penticton, until moving to Summerland in 2018. Everywhere he lived, he brought his zest for life with him.
If you knew Paul, chances are you knew that if you had a pet or a young one, and you had him over for a visit, it would be only a matter of minutes before he’d be on your floor like a big kid himself, wrassling with them and getting the most joy out of the encounter.
Some of his great loves were: his children, ALL children (being “papa” to all the little people), laughter, animals, helping others, nature, music, building things — and “MacGivor” solving problems!, Westbank trips to visit brother Bruce, gold claim with brother Brian, backwoods adventures, all kind of outings, his vehicles over the years, supporting local groups, photography, traveling to Mexico to build a school, Thrift Store finds, FOOD! – all kinds, but especially his famous chicken chili, working at the Observatory, football, bookwork, Farside comics, sharing jokes and newspaper clippings, and especially his AA community.
Being a father and grandfather was his greatest joy. He will be greatly missed.
The family wishes to express sincere gratitude for the support, love and kindness of family and friends over this time.
To send flowers to Paul’s family, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Paul Stuart Dunlop July 1 1949 November 8 2021 (age 72)..
Death notice for the town of: Penticton, Province: Colombie britanique