Gordon "Paul" Johnson (1923-2010)

Gordon Paul Johnson

Gordon “Paul” Johnson

(1923-2010)

Paul was my father-in-law who had lived with Donna and I for the last 15 years. He was very much a part of our extended family and he will be missed by everyone. His obituary follows.

Mr. Paul Johnson of Langley, BC, died Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at Langley Memorial Hospital from complications following a stroke. Paul was 87. Paul was predeceased by his wife Nancy (nee Foreman) in 1993.

Paul was born on February 15, 1923 in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay) Ontario, the youngest son of John Alexander and Maria Johnson. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings, Ed, Walter, Tom, Ben, Mary Arthur and Norman.

In 1948, Paul married Nancy Foreman in Port Arthur and they raised two daughters, Janet Paula and Donna Susan. Paul had a very long career as a telephone technician with the Thunder Bay Telephone Company that spanned 30 plus years until his retirement in the early 1980s.

One of Paul’s most enjoyable activities was their summer camp at One Island Lake, where the family spent most summer weekends and their holiday time. Paul never tired of the continuous tasks and projects that had to be done to keep the camp maintained.

Paul’s hobby throughout his life was investing in the stock market. In spite of the high risks he really enjoyed the penny stocks and over the years did surprisingly well with his investments.

In 1984 Paul and Nancy moved from Thunder Bay to Surrey, BC, as they wanted to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren who were living in the Vancouver area.

Paul was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. In Thunder Bay he built backyard ice rinks in support of Donna’s and Janet’s accomplishments in figure skating. Every year Paul volunteered countless hours helping the figure skating club put on their productions and competitions.

In his final month in hospital he loved to talk about the camp at One Island Lake, his childhood at the farm in Gorham Township and his travels with Nancy.

Paul adored his grandchildren. He generously supported their university educations and celebrated their successes in life. Over the past years he has been blessed and overjoyed with his three great grandchildren, Ruby and Rocco Forte in Burnaby and newly arrived Gabriel Phillips in Calgary.

Since moving to Langley following Nancy’s death, Paul has been a regular visitor at the Langley Seniors Resource Centre. Lunch on most days and cards on Tuesday and Thursdays were a wonderful welcoming community of friends. Our family would like to thank the Seniors Centre for its caring staff, volunteers and friends.

Paul’s final days were on 3 south at Langley Memorial Hospital. Thank you for the care and support from everyone there. A special thank you to Paul’s GP Doctor Mary Pushie for her professional care and unrelenting support for Dad and all of the family.

Paul is survived by his daughters, Janet Phillips and Donna Gittens, son-in-law Cliff Gittens, grandchildren Sara Forte (nee Gittens) and Michael Gittens, Paula Phillips, Robyn Brown (nee Phillips), and Dale Phillips, great grandchildren Ruby and Rocco Forte and Gabriel Phillips. All reside in the Vancouver area except Robyn Brown, Dale Phillips and Gabriel Phillips who reside in Calgary, Alberta.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at Henderson’s Langley Funeral Home, 20786 Fraser Highway, Langley, BC. Burial will be at the Langley Lawn Cemetery, 4393 208 St, Langley BC, immediately following the service. Everyone is welcome to attend

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation at their web site http://www.bcchf.ca/main/?donateNow.

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