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Frank Thurloe HUBBARD

October 11, 2006

Frank Thurloe Hubbard died peacefully at home on October 11, 2006. Born December 12, 1919 in Brantford, Ontario to Frank and Gertrude Hubbard, Frank's favourite childhood memories were of time spent on his uncle's ranch in Calgary. He quit school in Grade 9 to farm. When the war began, he worked as a machinist manufacturing Lysanders. In 1941 Frank joined the RCAF, became a pilot and was sent to England where he flew many aircraft in operations. His favourite was the Spitfire. When badly burned in a plane crash he went to the hospital in East Grinstead where he was one of the early Guinea Pigs (a burn treatment program pioneered by Canadian Dr. Ross Tilley). There he met and married a beautiful redhead volunteer nurse, a secretary for the military General Staff. Shirley (nee Chambers) from Sarnia, Ontario, returned to Canada with him and they began their family while Frank graduated in Aeronautical Engineering at University of Toronto and worked on the Avro Arrow project before moving to St. Foy, then to Valcartier Village, Quebec in 1955 to work at CARDE (DREV). In 1973 they moved to Prince George where he and Shirley operated P.G. Airepair, repairing aircraft. In 1978, they moved to the lower mainland then to Chilliwack where he worked for Harrison Air, Canadian Aircraft Products and the Ministry of Transport. Frank never really retired, continuing consulting on aircraft design. Frank and Shirley became devoted members of the Abbotsford Flying club and enjoying time with aviation friends while raising Arabian horses and highland cattle on their farm. Frank is mourned by his wife of 62 years, Shirley, sons Frank (Trish), Michael (Karin), Ross (Linda) and daughters Kathleen (Steve) Erb, Kristen (Garry) Corrigan, Lauren (Bruce) Peel, Moira (Sean) Short, 23 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. A memorial will be held at the Abbotsford Flying Club on November 4, 2006 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Elizabeth's Wildlife Centre, 32508 Verdun Way, Abbotsford, BC V2T 7Y3.



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