Patricia WHEELWRIGHT

PATRICIA 'TISH' DOREEN WHEELWRIGHT 'When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,-that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.' John Keats Patricia 'Tish' Doreen Wheelwright passed away on August 11, 2021 at the Moog & Friends Hospice House in Penticton, B.C. She had celebrated her 89th birthday the month before, with the energy, optimism, kindness and sense of adventure that characterized her entire approach to life. She was a woman who loved her family, lightened a room when she entered it and was rarely at a loss for words - particularly poetic ones. Tish had the ability to memorize epic poems and long Shakespearan monologues - and could recite one at the drop of a hat. She was a terrific listener, a great friend and positive, warm person who would always look to help others in need. Tish was born in England as the youngest child of Major Charles Ball and his wife, Eva St. Claire and sister to older brothers James and Peter. In June of 1940, Tish's parents made the difficult decision to send her and Peter to live in Toronto, Canada as 'war guests'. She arrived at 7 years old to live with business acquaintances of her father. She would not see her mother again for 4 years, returning to an England still at war in 1944 - with many tough years of rationing ahead. Her time in Canada with her host family the Pembertons was life-changing. She fell in love with the Canadian way of life. After finishing her education at girls' boarding school in England, she was a debutante, presented to Queen Elizabeth II at the Palace Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, on June 26, 1952. Then she took an English and French literature degree at Trinity College, Dublin, and after graduation, jobs in London at The Times of London bookshop - and as a London supply teacher. In 1956, at a party in London's Savoy Hotel, she met her future husband, David Antony Wheelwright, a former Royal Navy officer and trainee doctor. In 1957, Tish's parents sent her on a world tour - which included stops in Toronto, in New York (to stay with the family of department store magnate J.C. Penney), and then to Hawaii, Fiji, and southern Africa. Tish took an unscheduled detour to Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) where she and David were engaged at Victoria Falls. The couple were married within six months. Tish was always up for an adventure and in December 1958, the young couple sailed to Bermuda where David worked as a medical officer for the British Colonial Office and two months later, their son Geoffrey arrived. The young family returned home to England in early 1960 where Julie, their second child, arrived that June. A year later in Oxford, daughter Mandy was delivered at home by a trainee midwife, with David's assistance. In 1962, the family moved to Calgary where their fourth child, Penelope, was born and where David opened a medical practice. Tish ensured that the young family settled well into the city - where they lived for the next six years. Tish loved being a mother and had her hands full with four children under 5 years old. She never lost her sense of humour and was a huge support for her husband as they adjusted to the Canadian lifestyle. In 1968, the family embarked on a new adventure, moving to Westbank, B.C. to enjoy the wonderful Okanagan sun, sand and surf - and for Tish and David to try their hands at running a small business. In 1969, the family moved again - this time to Vancouver - as David decided to seek a degree in psychiatry at the University of British Columbia. In Vancouver, Tish dove into the affairs of the local community, speaking out against a controversial shopping mall development and gaining the attention of Vancouver Sun columnist Alan Fotheringham as 'the woman with the fruity English voice'. In 1971, Tish and David moved the family back to Kelowna as David joined a psychiatric practice there. The four Wheelwright children attended school before departing for the University of BC in succession. Tish then had time to accompany David to conferences, where they became interested in New Age therapies, and she also joined - and eventually became chair of - Kelowna General Hospital's Women's auxiliary, raising funds for new equipment and patient services. She also served in the executive of the Kelowna Flying Club, of which she and David were active members. In the 1990s, David retired from his group practice to see patients from the family home, with Tish as office manager. In 2014, as Tish and David became increasingly frail, the couple were cared for by Mandy and her partner Eva at their home in Naramata. Within a year however, David moved to Westview, a complex care unit in Penticton where he died in December 2019. We would like to send our sincere thanks and gratitude to the wonderful staff at Westview Place who cared for David - and took care of Tish during her respite visits over these years. Tish's passing remains a painful absence for her loved ones, who celebrated her life at a service in Naramata in August, where she was laid to rest alongside her beloved David. She is survived by all her children (Geof, Julie, Mandy and Penny), their partners, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Tish will be greatly missed by her family and friends, her community and the many people whose lives she touched. She was a woman with no regrets. Condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.everdenrust.com