Geoffrey David Ramsay
July 16, 1923-February 3, 2022
It is with sad and heavy hearts that we must announce that our beloved father, Geoffrey Ramsay, died on February 3rd at the Purdy Pavilion care home, at the University of British Columbia. He is survived by his loving wife Joyce, and his family and friends in Metro Vancouver, Edmonton and England.
Geoffrey was born in Manchester, England in 1923. His parents, Lucy and Gerald, both pharmacists, moved to Birmingham in 1930 where they established two businesses including one where Gerald also practiced as an optometrist. After elementary school, Geoffrey completed his education at King Edward VI Grammar School in Edgbaston, Birmingham and upon graduation he worked in Lloyds Bank. With World War II heating up, Geoffrey and two friends from the bank decided to volunteer for the Royal Air Force, and were accepted as prospective pilots. Initial training was in London, Scarborough and Carlisle. He was then posted to Canada as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, sailing on the Queen Elizabeth I and landing in New York before proceeding by train to Moncton, New Brunswick.
Geoff’s Elementary Flying Training School was in Neepawa, Manitoba, and his Service Flying School was in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, where he received his “Wings” as a Sgt/Pilot. Following this he went on a series of postings to other British Commonwealth Air Training Stations as a Staff Pilot from 1942 to 1946. He flew in Trenton (Ontario), Port Albert (Ontario), Boundary Bay (BC), Abbotsford (BC) and Lachine (Quebec).
At the end of the war, Geoffrey was released from service in the UK and resumed work at Lloyds Bank. He married the love of his life, Joyce, in London in1947 and in late 1947 they emigrated to Canada flying to Toronto under Premier George Drew’s Emigration Scheme on December 11. They both worked for the Canadian Bank of Commerce upon arrival. In 1949 they decided to take the train “Out West” where they continued working for the bank and bought their first house in Vancouver in 1951 before the birth of their son David.
Realizing that the bank’s policy was to move their staff frequently to branches throughout the province, Geoff obtained a position in the City of Vancouver’s Social Welfare Department and raised their son David and daughter Ellen. During this time, Geoffrey became an assistant leader in the 31st Scout Group for five years while David went through Cubs and Scouts. Geoff also worked at night and obtained a Junior and Senior Diploma from UBC in Municipal Administration. In 1964, the family returned to the UK on an extended visit where Geoff worked for the Bedford Town Hall before returning to Vancouver in 1966. Thereafter he worked until retirement for the Royal Trust Company.
While Geoffrey was working for the Vancouver Welfare Department, he met a fellow employee, Brother Fred Rannard, a life-long friend who introduced him to freemasonry and sponsored him into Crown Lodge No. 163, on Nov. 1St, 1961. Geoff served as Worshipful Master for the 1975/1976 Masonic Year, became Secretary between 1980-1984, and Treasurer from 1988 to 1990 until the Amalgamation with Mosaic Lodge No. 162. Geoff then became Inner Guard of Pythagoras Lodge.
Joyce and Geoff joined St. Philip’s Anglican Church in 1951 where Geoff served as a sidesman for many years. In retirement, Geoff traveled with his greatest love, Joyce, to London, Paris, Oregon, California, Hawaii, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
In addition to his dear wife, Geoff leaves behind his two children, Ellen and David (and wife Cynthia), two grandsons, Mark and Stephen (and wife Michelle, and mother in law Vanessa), and three great grandchildren, Joanna, Claire and Isaiah. Geoffrey will always be remembered as a kind, loving and loyal husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and as a contributor to public life wherever he went. We will miss you Geoff!
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Geoffrey David Ramsay July 16 1923February 3 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique