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David Rabson Obituary
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22 Entries
Marie Morgan
March 24, 2019
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always. Brenda misses you dreadfully and is always talking about you to us, you will never be forgotten. Love Marie, Clare and Sean xxx
Stephen Flamer
April 23, 2013
I was so very saddened to hear about David's passing. I met Dave over 30 years ago at the WCB. Over the years we kept in touch and saw each other 3 or 4 times a year.
I have many, many fond memories of visiting Dave at his apartment, talking about his beloved car, his interest in investing, antiques, and his interest in his UBC program. He was a very gentle, caring person with a sharp wit, subtle and dry sense of humour, and engaging and enquiring mind.
I will miss him greatly, as everyone will who was fortunate enough to know him. In his inimitable fashion David enriched our lives.
My deepest condolences to David's family, and friends.
April 23, 2013
I have known David since 1974 when I started work with Workmen's Compensation Board. Being a newcomer in the workforce David was always there for me. I considered him my guardian angel. He took away all my fears and insecurities and assured me everything will be all right. By the time he retired I became a very confident person. Thanks Dave I will forever owe you for that.
Although Dave and I didn't see each other as often as we should, when we had a chance to get together we always had a good laugh. We would have discussions with his passion of something very old, stocks and anything that come our way. They were good conversations and I will truly miss that.
Rest in peace my dear friend. I will never forget such a gentle and caring friend.
Janie and Gary Pickard
April 21, 2013
Uncle David,
It was a pleasure seeing you during your visits to our side of the family (Ron & Barb). It is a shame that we left it too late to come over and visit you. We will treasure our memories of you.
“Expect the best; it lies not at the past”. Motto of your Father Carlyle Percy William Rabson
Love
Ian, Hilary, Amy and Sophie Rabson
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Jonathan Knight
April 15, 2013
Dear Great Uncle David,
You were such a light in the life of so many people, as I read in these messages from friends and family. I know that my grandmother looks up to you so much and speaks of you so highly as a true gentleman and such a caring person. I only wish that the miles between you and my family were fewer so that we could have shared more time together. You will remain in our hearts forever!
April 15, 2013
My Uncle David was the loveliest of men in every way. He was kind,loving and forever curious about life. He had the most wonderful sense of humour which was appreciated and will be greatly missed by the many people who knew and loved him. I am sure he is looking down on us all now with that beautiful smile and gently reminding us all to enjoy and appreciate our friends and family.
We will miss you Uncle David but you will always be in our hearts.
Nikki
Brenda
April 12, 2013
My brother David, the dearest, gentlest person and will be missed terribly. We loved his visits to England to see me and my family, and made every effort to visit everyone, including my two brothers Rodney, Michael and their families. My children adored him and he them. Occasionaly he would hire a car and we would go through the villages of his childhood, or Rodney would drive to give him time to see everything, then stop at an old pub and have a meal. Being together with all my siblings were some of the happiest times. Love Brenda, your sister who loved you dearly.
Georgina, Ryan and Hayley
April 12, 2013
It was always a pleasure to see David, a truly kind and gentle soul.
He was a great inspiration to my son who graduated with a masters degree in archaeology.
Unfortuatley they never met as Ryan was always away when David came to visit but that didnt stop him having immense admiration for his Great Uncle.
I will always remember David as I last saw him, full of smiles sitting in our garden sipping tea, then walking arm in arm with my mum through the golf course in Nettlebed chatting and laughing.
A memory I feel privileged to have.
You are often in our thoughts David and we will always love you.
Our thought are also with you Yvonne just wish we could have been there to help, to a wonderful caring sister, all our love and hugs always.
Birchana Caldwell
April 9, 2013
For the short time I was privileged enough to have known David he taught me so much. I will forever be grateful for the time we spent together. Last night I watched the Antique Roadshow and thought about him. He would watch it and we would talk about it the next day. We will miss David every day but knowing he lived a happy life and is now at rest again with his love, Ann, brings comfort. LOVE
Sean&Julia Kelly
April 4, 2013
It's late in the evening here in Florida and I have read the tributes to David. I just want to add our thoughts to what has been said. I first met David at my future wife's daughter's wedding. We were seated at the same table with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Shirley, Tammy, Bob & Pat Jackson and the priest who had married Sally & Bryan earlier that day. Our lives were to become intertwined a lot more as the years rolled by. When Julia, (Ann's sister), & I decided to get married she asked David would he give her away. We were not sure he would come to the wedding as he always had an exam to take but to our surprise he accepted and we were over the moon about this gesture. The last time we saw him was about 4years ago in Vancouver and although we have asked him many times to come visit us in Alberta or Florida he did not make it. I would have liked him to have met the next generation in Alberta because we were always talking about him but alas that did not happen. Yes he was the perfect English man, the idea in ones head of how an English man should act. That generation is fast going, a loss of a bygone era. I could go on for hours about David but I'll stop here. To his sisters and brother we send you our condolences, we know what you have lost but we also know he is now with his one true love. God bless you in your griefe and all our love to you. From all in Alberta
David and Alicia Warwick
April 4, 2013
Thank you for the notice of David's celebration of his life. We would loved to have been there to reminisce with his friends; about the wonderful things that we have been fortunate to share with David. However it is not possible due to advice of my GP at this time. It goes without saying that our thoughts and love are with you all, and at the appropriate time here in the UK we will toast to the remembrance of Davd's life.
I always thought that David was more like a brother to me than a brother in law. Our lives were entwined not only by friendship but the fact that Ann was Alicia's twin sister. The two sisters and David grew up together. Alicia remembers David singing in the choir at the church in Radley where he and Ann were eventually married. He had a great affection for Ann's mother staying with her occasionally when visiting Oxford. The twins thought alike and were always aware of the twists of life for each other. I remember David phoning me one morning and saying " You have done it again haven't you Alicia is expecting" . She was and Ann was having the early morning sickness.
We both enjoyed our visits to Canada and fondly remember the kindness which David and Ann showed us. David loved visiting Oxford taking summer courses at Christchurch College. He enjoyed the academic mysteries of the university life. He had a passion of always seeking further knowledge about life through his research and study. He spent a lot of time at the Ashmolean museum visiting the Eygptian section which was part of one of his courses at his university in Vancouver.
David also enjoyed the excursions we used to make touring the Cotswolds together. He loved the old thatched cottages, the visits to Burford where he delved into the antique shops. I remember some years ago sitting with David in a sunny courtyard of a restaurant in Burford where we ate a Lardy cake together. He was specially enthralled with a visit to the church where the Vicar of Dibley was filmed.
All who met David loved him, our two grandaughters especially enjoyed being with him and chatting away. He will be sadly missed by us all, but we will all have lovely memories of David which we will never loose. David had a full and eventful life, always seeking for more knowledge in his quiet scholastic manner. David's time here on earth has helped many people to achieve many things. We are all privileged to say that we have known him, and now in his passing he is at rest with his beloved Ann.
We would like to express our thanks to you Yvonne for the way you took on the task of easing the passing of David's last days. He always appreciated your guidance, and we know he would have been happy that you were there at the closing of his life.
God bless and love to you all.
Jenny and Ray
April 3, 2013
EULOGY FOR A WONDERFUL FRIEND
DAVID, AN EXCEPTIONAL BRITISH-BORN GENTLEMAN AND AN OUTSTANDING FRIEND, ACCOMPANIED OUR LIVES FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.
IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT WE CAN NO LONGER ASK HIM FOR ADVICE, HELP, COACHING, PRIVATE TUTORING OR HAVE COFFEE AND LUNCHES TOGETHER WITH HIM.
HIS PLACE IS EMPTIER THAN WE CAN EXPRESS AND THE ONLY COMFORT WE CAN FIND IN LOSING THE BEST FRIEND EVER IS THAT HE NO LONGER HAS TO SUFFER AND RESTS IN PEACE.
DESCRIBING DAVID IS NOT THAT EASY, AS THERE WERE MANY DIFFERENT SIDES TO THIS WONDERFUL FRIEND.
HE LOVED HIS ROLLS ROYCE AND DROVE IT WITH SUCH AN ELEGANCE OF A DISTINGUISHED ENGLISH GENTLEMAN THROUGH VANCOUVER, THAT PEOPLE WATCHING REALIZED HIS PRIDE AND ENJOYED IT AS WELL.
HE LOVED TO STUDY AND WAS ADMIRED BY HIS FELLOW STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS FOR THE TENACITY OF WANTING TO LEARN EVERYTHING HE COULD IN HIS FAVOURITE BROAD ESPECTRUM SUBJECTS FROM EGYPTOLOGY TO GEOLOGY.
IT WAS HIS DREAM TO ONE DAY VISIT THE EXCAVATION SITES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE WOULD SMILINGLY AND SOFTLY SAY "THIS IS NOTHING FOR MY AGE, I HAVE TO LEAVE THIS DREAM TO MY YOUNG FELLOW STUDENTS".
HE HAD AN EXCEPTIONAL SENSE OF HUMOUR, WHICH IS THE TYPICAL BRITISH SENSE OF HUMOUR, WHICH MADE HIS AND OUR LIVES HAPPIER.
HE LOVED THE ARTS AND CLASSICAL MUSIC AND ALWAYS EXPLAINED THAT HE FELT SORRY THAT HE WAS NEVER ABLE TO LEARN TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG CHILD.
THERE WAS A WARMTH ABOUT DAVID, WHICH IMPRESSED EVERYONE.
IN OUR HEARTS DAVID WILL ALWAYS BE THE SMILING BRITISH GENTLEMAN FRIEND, COURTEOUS, ELEGANT, INTELLIGENT AND EXTREMELY KIND, BUT WHATEVER HE DID WHILE HE WAS WITH US WAS WITH A TWINKLE IN HIS EYES.
DAVID, YOU WILL BE MORE THAN REMEMBERED FRIEND, AS NO ONE WHO EVER MET YOU WILL BE ABLE TO REALLY FORGET YOU.
REST IN PEACE OUR BELOVED FRIEND.
Marie, Clare and Sean Morgan
April 3, 2013
It's been a few years since we last saw David. He came over to the UK for a visit and found time to visit our home where Clare took his arm and helped him accross the street. He was a gentle, kind man and my kids thought the world of him and were happy to have finally met him. We will remember him fondly, bless him. A huge thankyou Yvonne for all you have done for David in the last few months. Mum will be adding her own thoughts shortly. We are thinking of you Yvonne at this sad time. Love Marie, Clare and Sean
Audrey Pons
April 2, 2013
I worked with Dave in the Career Redirection and Job Search Program at WorkSafeBC (WCB back then). He was a true gentleman who really enjoyed his work and he made a significant positive and uplifting impact on the many clients' lives he touched as well as his many colleagues here. I enjoyed learned about his studies and travels. He was a wonderful man with a kind heart. I will miss him. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.
April 1, 2013
David is the gem of an individual that one has the privilege of knowing once in a lifetime. Having known and worked with David for many years, I had the benefit of his unfailing optimism and most of all his personal friendship. At numerous lunches over the years my wife Gail also came to know and love David for his humour and gentlemanly manner.
Yvonne, you can take strength in knowing that David was immensely proud of you and spoke often and enduringly of you.
David you will be greatly missed and never forgotten.
Gail and Keith
April 1, 2013
Yvonne/Grandma Ormston, We are sending you much love. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Love Kathleen, Zach and Jaid.
Andrea
March 31, 2013
I met David nearly a decade ago at UBC. I started as his tutor for one of the classes he was working on for his Bachelor of Arts and we got along very well - I helped with every class he had from then on. Our working relationship turned into a deep and dear friendship.
David became a grandfather to me. Someone with gentle patience, wise advice, and a joyful smile. Endlessly generous with his time and care, I have a true hole in my life that he once filled with archaeological knowledge, philosophical discussions, and bacon at breakfast.
I am not sure how I got so lucky as to meet this wonderful man but I am grateful that I did, and that we got to spend so much time together. I will miss him. He is greatly loved.
Breakfast at Seasons in the Park August 2012
Andrea Cade
March 31, 2013
Lunch at Reflections at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in July 2012
Andrea Cade
March 31, 2013
March 31, 2013
DEAR YVONNE
THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AT THIS TIME. PLEASE ACCEPT OUR SINCERE SYMPATHY.FEEL LIKE WE HAVE KNOWN DAVID THROUGH YOUR THOUGHTS. ALL THE BEST
SINCERELY
FRED AND MARILYN FENNELL
March 31, 2013
I didn't know David for long, yet I feel like I knew him so well through conversations with his wonderful sister Yvonne. In these last few months, I spent a lot of time with Yvonne and David and I have never met a lovelier man, so kind, such beautiful manners...a real gentleman.
I got to spend several evenings with him and talk with him - oh how his eyes lit up when he talked of his beloved Annie...he told me about coming to Canada, how they worked together and had so much fun together, every day was an adventure.
David was always looking forward, so positive, so good natured with a great sense of humor & fun...and such a loyal friend!
As much as he is missed here on earth, he will be delighting all who meet up with him in heaven...take care of the girls for me David!
Love always from your "Corrie Street" buddy...Shelley
murial gendel
March 30, 2013
dear yvonne and family:
please accept my heartfelt condolences for your very sad loss.
sincerely, murial
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