David John Hunden

1916 - 2021

David Hunden died January 30, 2021 at the Lynn Valley Care Center in North Vancouver three days before his 105th birthday. He was born February 2, 1916 in Cumberland, BC, the oldest son of Evan and Elizabeth Hunden.

David began his career as a teacher in Canyon, BC, where he met the love of his life, fellow teacher Sybil Norgrove. He was a World War II veteran, landing on a Normandy beach on D-Day plus one. He remained in the Armed Forces after the war and served his country for an additional twenty-five years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His various postings took him and his family to Pakistan and a half a dozen military bases across Canada. Notably, he spent a year in Vietnam in 1961 working for CANDEL, the agency charged with enforcing the peace after Vietnam defeated France in 1954. Upon retiring from the military, he got his master's degree in history from Carleton University and returned to his first love, teaching at Langara Community College in Vancouver for another twenty years.

David loved his big garden at their home in West Vancouver. He was an avid swimmer, admitting to having swum across Canada one lap at a time. However, his main claim to athletic fame was his uniquely customized "5BX" program of exercise every morning and every night. His son Jack introduced him at one time to "the Plank" exercise when David was in his nineties. Jack had over many months worked his way up to doing two minutes of the Plank. David dropped to the floor and promptly assumed the position. After two minutes, he asked "How long are you supposed to be able to do this for?".

David was a kind and generous person who inspired many others. He was gentle where Sybil was colorful. He spoke little about the war. However, he did sometimes say that he thought his life was over several times and that everything since then had been a gift. That gave him a warm and grateful spirit.

David is survived by his son Jack Hunden, daughter-in-law Pam Hawes, grandchildren Tom Hunden and Carolyn Hawes, nieces Joni Graham and Meg Sinclair and many friends whose lives he touched. He was preceded in death by his wife Sybil and brother Bud Hunden.



Thank you to Dr. Catherine Bazilli, Joni Graham and her husband Ron Taylor, Lions Gate Hospital, Cedar Springs Retirement Home and the Lynn Valley Care Center, who all cared for David and Sybil for so many years.