On Saturday, July 30, 2011, after several years of medical problems, Paul said his final “Goodbye”. He died peacefully Taxied for takeoff – Closed hangar doors
in Royal Inland Hospital Kamloops, B.C. He leaves behind his wife of 51 years Hazel of Barriere, B.C.; children Gordon Peregrym of Prince George, B.C., Gwen Peregrym of Port Alberni, B.C., and Gayle (Bill) Letoria of Kamloops, B.C.; five grandchildren, Stephanie (Bear) Peregrym, Elec Peregrym, and Danny Peregrym (Gordon), and Tyson and Caitlynn Webb, (Gayle).
Paul came from a large family. He is survived by his brothers Peter (Darlene), Bill (Lorraine), and Daniel (Myrna) of Blackfoot, AB, Steve (Joan) of Spruce Grove, AB, and Joe (Joyce) of Bonnyville, AB; sisters Rose (John) Hrycauk of Bonnyville, AB, Helen (Mike) Kashuba of Lloydminster, SK, and Anne (Frank) Pap of Huntington Beach, CA; and sister-in-law Sandra (John) Espenhain of Kaleden, B.C. Also nieces and nephews and their spouses and children too numerous to mention.
Paul was raised in the Beaverdam and Blackfoot areas of Alberta and in the summer of 1959 at the age of 19 he moved to B.C. with his parents where he helped them build a house. He found a job as an auto mechanic and stayed.
In the summer of 1960 he married Hazel Marr and they started their life together and raised their young family in the Surrey, B.C. area.
Paul went into business for himself as a Service Station Operator in the spring of 1962 and spent the next 41 years selling gas and fixing cars in both Surrey and Aldergrove, B.C.
He had a favourite group of friends that he went hunting with each year and never failed to bring home that “cheap” meat to fill the freezer until the next year.
He spent many years with the Whalley Kinsmen holding many spots on the executive. In 1973 Paul moved the family to Langley and met a neighbour who renewed an old interest in what was to become his passion: “FLYING”.
He joined the Abbotsford Flying Club in the spring of 1974, got his private pilot’s license in the spring of 1978. In the fall of 1978 he bought a Beech Musketeer which Hazel immediately named “The Other Woman” and subsequently “The Mud Hen”. Paul spent the next 25 years very involved with the Flying Club and the Abbotsford International Airshow. In 1998 he sold his Musketeer and in 1999 he started building a Europa from a kit. Four years and about 2,200 hours later, while working full time, he took it up for its first flight.
Kids all grown up and airplane built, Paul and Hazel retired and moved to Barriere, B.C. in August of 2004. He then became a part time farmer.
In the fall of 2004 Paul went to Blackfoot to lend a hand with the harvest. After that he went back spring and fall. He thoroughly loved the time farming while leaving the daily worries to Dan, Bill and Peter.
Paul has now hangared the plane for the last time.
Services were held Saturday August 06, 2011, at the Barriere Seniors Center with family and friends in attendance. Services entrusted to North Thompson Funeral Services, Barriere, B.C., telephone 250-672-1999.