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In Loving Memory of Peter Dobson


December 21, 1931 ~ January 5, 2017


Peter Dobson, long-time resident of Abbotsford and Mission, passed away peacefully at Menno Home. Born in Hindsford, UK of Scottish parents who emigrated to work in the coal mines near Manchester, Peter grew up in a hard scrabble era of coal furnaces and tough times. Orphaned at 10 in WWII he was cared for in 22 foster homes. Mentored by family friends, he apprenticed and achieved his Master’s ticket as a finishing carpenter by the age of 15. Conscripted into the army in time to serve in MI5 during the Korean War, Peter became a communications liaison, visiting Korea several times and the middle east and teletyping sports scores to British forces around the world. After de-mobbing Peter returned to school and became a district building surveyor in both Manchester and London areas. In 1964 Peter emigrated with wife and two children to Toronto Canada starting his new career in the construction field with Gordon Adamson Architects and went on to manage projects for Cadillac Fairview, Chrysler Canada, York University, Waterloo U, Ontario Housing and Canadian Pacific Hotels where he oversaw an international construction expansion in the 1980’s (including 3 years in the Bahamas). Following CPH he moved back to England where he managed a private contract for the construction of two vehicle-testing facilities for British Leyland in the Midlands. Returning to Canada, in 1982, in the Mission, BC area, he established Dobson Construction Services and with son, Stephen, served small to medium size commercial clients around the Lower Mainland until retiring in 2000. Peter was an avid, and low-handicap golfer throughout his adult life as well as maintaining an interest in boxing. He received the Sports BC Award of Community Sports Hero for his decades as community advisor and leader: mentoring youth in the Restorative Justice program, training young golfers, Chairing BC Golf Association District 3, volunteering for Western Canada Summer Games and serving as Director of BC Amateur Boxing Association. A world traveler on five continents, Peter collected high quality performances of the classical music repertoire and was a model train aficionado. Peter is deeply missed as husband, father, grandfather, friend. He is predeceased by first wife Joan, son-in-law Bob Robertson, and survived by second wife Marilyn Hamilton, children Susan (Steve) and Stephen (Marion), grandchildren Amanda (Ken) and Jamie, and great grandson Cole. Many thanks to Menno Home for deep caring during Peter’s stay. Reflecting the wisdom of Robbie Burns, that we receive “the gift that God should give us, to see ourselves as others see us”, Peter’s life will be celebrated at 2:00 pm Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at Garden Park Tower, Azalea Room, 2825 Clearbrook Rd., Abbotsford, BC. In lieu of flowers, remembrance donations can be made to Abbotsford Community Foundation, 201 - 2890 Garden St., Abbotsford, BC V2T 4W7 or online at www.abbotsfordcf.ca.


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And auld lang syne!



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