Robert Gordon Rutherford was born on March 17, 1927, in Fort Willian (Thunder Bay) Ontario to parents Wilf and Hazel Rutherford and passed away on January 03, 2026 in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia after a full and accomplished life of 98 years.

The Rutherfords had six children (Peter, Dorothy, Robert, Mary, Lyndell and Helen in that order) and lived on a large piece of property on Willingdon Ave in Burnaby. A piece of their homestead was later turned into a park called Old Orchard Park. A plaque at the entrance tells the story.

While growing up he had lots of pets. A childhood dog named Dinty would follow him while he was riding one of his horses (Duke, Goldie and Speedy) back and forth from school or around Burnaby. He also owned a boxer he named "Mugs" and said that he felt she was a bit short on brains. Once he started his own family, he got us a puppy we called "Rags". We all loved that dog including Randy who turned out to be allergic to dog hair.

Bob signed up to join the Navy at the age of 18 on May 11, 1945, and was discharged due to demobilization on February 19, 1946.

On his return to Burnaby, he was introduced to Virginia Louise Doyle by his sister Dorothy who were both working at the Vancouver General Hospital as nurses. This courtship resulted in their marriage on the 13th of April 1949 in Victoria BC. This love affair lasted 74 years until Virginia passed away on February 06, 2024.

During their 74 years together, they accomplished a great deal. They started off by building a house on Sussex Street and started their own family. They raised their three boys (Stephen, Philip and Randy) in their larger house on Shepherd Street that became the family home for the next 50 plus years. During those years on Shepherd Street Bob worked at Simpson Sears on Kingsway in Burnaby as a department manager. Gardening became a passion for both Bob and Virginia with them winning the "Best of Burnaby backyards" several years in a row. They both joined the Burnaby Garden club, made many new friends and took great pride in showing their flowers and vegetables that they grew in their backyard.

Bob was an excellent fisherman, both on the river or out on the ocean. He rebuilt his first boat that we named "The Molly Brown" and took his 3 boys out to teach us how to fish. We spent many a summer vacation boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing and camping on the west coast and the interior of BC. Bob was a great teacher and very artistic. He was always ready to assist others at the garden club and got me started with my stained-glass hobby. His stepping stones and stained-glass art continues to adorn friends and neighbours' homes.

Bob's final years were spent at Nicola lodge where the staff and residents all liked and respected him. He always made a point of remembering your name when you visited him by making you write your name in his book and on his calendar, as he could no longer trust his memory. Bob spent his final 2 years without the love of his life, but he never forgot her. Each day he would talk to her and sing one of his two favorite songs to her, "We'll Meet Again Some Day" by Gene Autry and "Whatever Will Be Will Be" by Doris Day.

Robert (Bob) Rutherford was a true gentleman and so much more. He was chivalrous, courteous, honorable, charitable, and kind. As with his childhood animals, Bob had an easy way with children who liked and trusted him as did everyone who got to know him.

It was his wish for a simple farewell by cremation with no flowers or service and donations to a charity of the donors choosing. Bob is survived by his sons, Stephen and Philip, daughter-in-law, Zoria and grandchildren, Heather and Kevin. Bob will be greatly missed by all of us who had the pleasure to have had him touch each of our lives in his special way.

We have been blessed to have had such a great gentleman that we can call our father.

Philip and Steve Rutherford