DR. ORMOND ALLISON WEIR -

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

DR. ORMOND ALLISON WEIR 1920 - 2007 With deep sadness we announce the passing of Dr. Ormond Allison Weir, who died peacefully July 22 at the Kamloops Hospice after a long and valiant battle with cancer. He is dearly missed by his beloved wife of 52 years, the writer Joan Sherman Weir; by their four sons, Ian (Jude), Paul (Sandra), Michael (Jacqueline) and Richard (Coleen); and by grandchildren, Christina, Rachelle, Mitchell, Amy, Alexandra, Andrew, Jeannie, Taylor and Houston. Born in Peterborough, Ontario, on April 26, 1920, he was the son of Marshall and Maggie Weir, and the youngest of six siblings. He was predeceased by brothers, Harley (Viola), Archie (Margaret) and Clarence (Eunice); and by sisters, Jean Hunter (Rolly) and Margaret Hamley (Harry). From 1941 to 1945, he served two tours of duty in the RCAF as a navigator on Pathfinder Force of Bomber Command with 405 Canadian Squadron. After the war he studied medicine at Queen's University, where he also played varsity football and was captain of the basketball team. Completing his MDCM in 1951, he subsequently trained in vascular surgery at Duke University, and in 1958 became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. On May 14, 1955, he married Joan Sherman, daughter of Anglican Archbishop L. Ralph Sherman and Carolyn Sherman. In 1959 they moved to Kamloops. He served as Chief of Surgery at Royal Inland Hospital and as President of the Medical Staff, as well as serving as a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Advisory Committee for British Columbia and Alberta. A longstanding member of St. Paul's Church, he was a delegate to three General Synods of the Anglican Church of Canada, as well as serving as a member of the National Executive Council from 1975 to 1978. A man of deep faith, Orm found joy in family, work and friends. For many years he was an avid member of the self-styled Italian Ski Team, a group of weekend skiers who were not particularly good, or even particularly Italian, but who pursued the activity with great camaraderie and gusto. Throughout his life he was driven by a deep sense of duty to those in need and those less fortunate, arising in part from his own experiences growing up during the Depression. He faced his last battle with enormous dignity, grace and courage. He was an inspiration to us as he lived, and also as he died. Thanks to Greg Phillips and the staff at Kipp-Mallory Drugs, and to the nurses at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice. Funeral service is 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 28 at St. Paul's Cathedral, Kamloops. On-line condolences may be expressed at www.schoenings.com Arrangements are entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service, Kamloops, BC telephone 250 374 - 1454.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 25, 2007