GENGE, John Le Roy (Roy)
1919 - 2005
Roy passed away peacefully on April 28/05 surrounded by family and friends. Roy was
predeceased by his wife, Marguerite and son, Jack. He is survived by his daughters: Dianne (Bob) Bruon, Juanita Genge, Linda Hargreaves; grandchildren: Tracy (Dave) Williams, Tammy (Colin) Brander, Dennis (Cheryl) Hargreaves, Randall (Benita) Hargreaves, Sheila Hargreaves; six great-grandchildren: Ian, Brad, Julie, Jordan, Emily, Zack; and one great-great granddaughter, Georga.
Roy was born in San Diego, Cal., returning as an infant with his parents, John and Leah Genge to the Cumberland area where his mother’s family (Hassell) had settled. His parents bought a dairy farm on Ibbotson Road where Roy spent his boyhood learning how to farm and attending Minto School. As a young adult, Roy worked at the B.C. Cement Plant in Bamberton. During time off, he went to Victoria where he met Marguerite Easton. Following their marriage in 1940, they resided in the Mill Bay area, but farming was in Roy’s blood and the couple returned to the Valley to take over the family farm. Cumberland residents can still recall the “singing milkman” who delivered milk to their doors early in the morning.
Roy was a person who gave to the community in every possible way. At the time of his death, he was president of the Cumberland Historical Society, a member of the Cumberland Masonic Lodge, a charter member and current officer of the Beaufort Chapter #61 Order of Eastern Star, a charter member, builder and past president of the Fallen Alders Community Club, past president of the Cumberland Chamber of Commerce, director on the Cumberland Hospital Board and many other organizations too numerous to mention. Roy was devoted to the preservation of history in the Cumberland area. He was one of the few people remaining who had living knowledge of past events. Roy was co-founder of Miner’s Memorial Day and helped with plans for the upcoming 20th Anniversary event this June.
He was awarded the Community Service Award from the Cumberland Chamber of Commerce in 1996. In the fall, Roy always looked forward to spending time big game hunting with the Carter clan and his grandson, Dennis, in the interior of B.C.
A gathering of friends is planned for Sunday, June 5, 2005 in Roy’s home on Ibbotson Road at 1:30pm. No flowers by request, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society. Piercy’s - Mount Washington Funeral Home in charge of Cremation.