GORDON MAITLAND BARBER

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GORDON MAITLAND BARBER Gordon Barber made a peaceful final flight departure on August 12, 2007, from St. Boniface Hospital after more than 82 years of full, active, and adventurous life. He leaves behind his wife Pat of 54 years; four children, Josh (Cheryl) of Ottawa, Martha (Bob) of Boulder, CO, Peter (Sherry) of Edmonton, and Katherine of Toronto; six grandchildren, Daniel, Beth, Gabriel, Michael, Stephen, and Tristan; and two sisters, Lucille of London, England, and Corinne Lee of Victoria, BC. Born on January 23, 1925, in Underhill, MB, the eldest child of Mait and Bertha Barber, he was raised on the family farm where the vast Manitoba sky imbued him with a passion to fly from an early age. The war gave him an opportunity to follow his skyward dreams and he served as a navigator in the RCAF in Canada and England from 1943 to 1945. Returning to Canada after the war, he completed a degree at McGill University then went back to England to join the RAF. He served as a navigator on many different aircraft at stations in England and many places around the world until 1965 and retired in the rank of Squadron Leader. In 1967 he led the family back to Manitoba and lived in Winnipeg for the past 40 years. He worked variously in management positions at Hignell Printers and the University of Manitoba until he returned to his first love and became a ground school and flying instructor at the Winnipeg Flying Club until his retirement. A man of many enthusiasms, he was a self-taught carpenter of great skill and a maker of exceptionally high quality reproduction antique furniture. Even in this hobby, his love for aviation shone through and he transferred those skills to building and flying his own aeroplane, his beloved Cavalier, C-GPFB. After his retirement from active flying, he donated the Cavalier to the Western Canada Aviation Museum; until very recently, this aircraft graced the arrivals lobby of Winnipeg Airport for several years. By his very express wishes, there will be no funeral. Cremation and private interment will take place at the family plot in Hartney, MB, on Friday, August 17. In keeping with his wishes and the very essence of Gordon, there will be a party to celebrate his life, enthusiasms, and accomplishments to be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 18 at the 17 Wing Officers' Mess located at the Air Base in Building 76 on East St. Enter from Whytewold Rd. All friends, neighbours, and former colleagues are most cordially invited to join us. The family would like to thank the very many friends who showed considerable kindness over the past several difficult months. Most especially we would like to acknowledge the exceptional generosity of Ruth Grewe, Keith Burr, and Greg and Gloria Lampert and the many kindnesses and professionalism shown by the students and staff of the Palliative Care Ward of St. Boniface Hospital. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Gordon are asked to donate to either the Western Canada Aviation Museum or the St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation specially marked for the Palliative Care Ward. Per Ardua Ad Astra WOJCIK'S ALL BELIEFS FAITHS FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM FAMILY OWNED OPERATED 897 - 4665

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 16, 2007