July 21, 1940 - December 13, 2020
On Sunday, December 13, 2020, the nurturing and loving David Anthony William Ovans passed away suddenly at the age of 80. Born in Calgary on July 21, 1940 to parents Olive Emily Dixon and Capt. David Lambert Ovans, he was raised in Sangudo, Alberta, where he often rode a horse to the one-room schoolhouse.
David joined the Royal Canadian Engineers as a 16 year old Sapper Apprentice (5th Intake) in 1956. Stationed at CFB Chilliwack, he soon met Bonnie Carey at the Paramount Theatre; they were married in 1960.
David loved his time in the Sapper Apprentice Training Squadron and many of his band of brothers became lifetime friends, especially Rodney Smeaton who married Bonnie's sister Peggy. After seven years of military service that included playing a glockenspiel solo for Princess Margaret and a tour of duty in West Germany, David was awarded the NATO Special Service Medal.
A famously well-organized administrator and compassionate manager, David thrived in many different occupations, including stints at the Safeway on Main Street, the Rosedale Machine Shop, and the Chilliwack Progress.
He and Bonnie left Chilliwack in 1979 to pursue David's entrepreneurial ambitions first on Salt Spring Island, and then Vancouver Island. An accomplished gardener, competitive player of card and board games, Canucks fan, impeccable driver, world-class smoker, and regular attendee at the Sandown horse racing track in Sidney, David was an extrovert who loved people, a trait that served him well during his 15 years as a real estate agent in Victoria.
David is remembered by his daughter Kelly and son Russell as incredibly humorous, sensitive, and a gifted piano player who serenaded them to sleep at night when they were little. (Russell enjoyed Spanish Eyes while Kelly was partial to the Boogie-Woogie.)
David loved the family pets immensely, especially the dogs Sasha and Jasmine who gave him considerable joy. His grandchildren had a special bond with their Grandpa Ovans, and looked forward to the days when he would pick them up from school, as well as the regular Sunday family dinners of baron of beef and Yorkshire pudding.
Bonnie and David were married for 60 years. David is survived by Bonnie, Kelly, and Russell; grandchildren Svea, Ilana, and Rebecca; nieces Connie and Debra; nephews Dean and Doug; and his big sister Daphne. No funeral service is planned at this time; a celebration of life will follow when appropriate. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to Child Find BC, a charity that was special to David.