May 24, 1927 ~ October 21, 2008
At the age of 81, and after living for over half a century in Barriere, Rodney Neil Pilkington passed away on October 21, 2008 at the Marjorie Snowden Hospice House in Kamloops, BC.
Rodney was born in Vernon BC. He spent most of his career in logging, but during the last 10 years or so, Rodney drove a propane delivery truck up and down the North Thompson Valley. No order was too small; he was there for everybody.
Rodney loved to hunt and fish and he loved to be outdoors exploring. There was no road too tough to explore in the bush. He probably hand-crafted more than a thousand flies for fishing the local waters and he willingly shared his knowledge about the most popular fly at any given moment with other fishermen -- friends and strangers alike.
Friends and family will remember Rodney’s quick wit and his dry sense of humour. He loved to tell and to listen to a good joke.
Left to mourn Rod’s passing are his sisters, Arlene (Del) Thomas of Westbank, BC, and June (Joe) Connors of White Rock, BC, brothers Don (Marlene) Pilkington of Lac La Hache, BC and Wesley Pilkington of Nelson, BC, step-son Gary Stephenson of Kamloops, BC, sister-in-law Darlene Pilkington of Quesnel, BC, numerous nieces and nephews, and his many friends throughout the North Thompson Valley, including his close friends Ray Holowaychuk, Mike Wurtz, Ivy Schweitzer, Silver and Bob Cartwright, and the entire Cartwright family. Rod was predeceased by his wife, Betty in 2008, and by his brother Keith, father Elvin and mother Gladys.
A gathering to remember Rodney Pilkington will be held at a later date. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Drake Smith at North Thompson Funeral Services, Barriere, BC, 250-672-1999.