Walter McQUADE

Walter McQuade (Scotty) passed away peacefully on October 21st, 2020.  Walter was born in Glasgow, Scotland on March 17th, 1932, though he wasn’t Irish, to Rose and James McQuade.  He was married to his long-time love and best friend Mary McQuade on March 4th, 1952 and they were together until May passed away on October 14th, 2019.  Walter had two brothers, Jimmy and Ronnie.  Jimmy passed away in Scotland at a young age, and Ronnie is currently cycling or running a marathon somewhere in White Rock.  Rosa, James and brother Ronnie came to Vancouver in the 1950’s.  Photographs and letters were sent to Walter showing him Canada really was the land of dreams.  Walter, who worked, delivering meat for a butcher at that time, saved up his money and with May’s fiscal management earned enough to bring the family, daughters Caroline and Elaine, to Vancouver on May 19th, 1960.  This did not go off without a hitch though.  Walter worked the morning of the flight and managed to lose his wallet, with the tickets and all of their money somewhere on his route.  People being as they were in Glasgow, found the wallet and returned it to Walter, so off we all went. 

Walter grew up in the housing estate of Pollok, Glasgow and went on to be a double decker bus driver which is where he met May, a Clippie.  He drove and she made sure everyone got a ticket.  Had to be a match made in heaven.  Walter was a young father with first daughter Caroline being born when he was 19.  The family album is full of pictures of his family at the seaside.  There are also numerous pictures of Caroline and Elaine sitting on the car seat by the side of the road while Walter fixed his car.  They didn’t always make it to Trune.

Walter loved his children, Caroline and Elaine, grandchildren Robert, Danielle, Kyle, Brendon and Alex and was blessed with Keaton and Ayla his great grandchildren.  He taught the boys how to golf and his daughters how to fish.  Caroline and Elaine remember many days sitting on the rocks by the Fraser River trying to catch anything but seals. 

The first few years in Canada were adventurous, with Walter working a number of jobs until he finally settled into real estate.  One of those jobs was for Canada Dry delivering pop throughout the Interior and to the Alberta border.  He was often kept company by 8 year old Elaine who loved helping with deliveries.  He enjoyed camping and from the beginning whether it was in a tent or tent trailer, desert or rain forest, the whole family went camping for up to a month in the summer.  Boats were rented and everyone fished, and if the kids needed money, Walter took them picking, cherries, apples, whatever was in season for the day.  Everyone returned with a great suntan, as you did in those days. 

Walter also took the family to the wrestling matches at the Form; Gene Kiniski, the Tolis Brothers, Gorgeous George, Dad cheered them all.  Roller Derby with Skinny Minnie Miller was another favourite. 

A great deal of time was also spent at Birch Bay lying on the beach, dances at Earls Barn and going for crab dinners.  And golfing, always golfing.

After retirement, Walter and May spent time watching all 5 of their grandchildren.  Walter also took up going to the gym and working out at Golds in Surrey.  One night, Robert, Danielle, and Brendon were with Walter walking through the parking lot at Block Buster.  Three large men veered towards them.  The kids were scared and held on to his hands.  The men approached and said “Sup Walter?”.  They were friends he spotted for at the gym.  The kids were impressed, in their minds, Grampa knew gangsters. 

Once May and Walter moved to Parksville he was able to spend time with grandsons Kyle and Alex, taking trips to Victoria, camping, golfing and fishing.  On one occasion, when Elaine and family were camping at Nanaimo Lakes, May and Walter came up for a visit.  Always an avid fisherman, Walter, went out in the canoe to fish.  He couldn’t swim and true to form never would wear a life jacket, his lure got stuck and he stood up to release it.  As the family  watched from the campsite, he fell into the lake. Everyone started laughing because it was quite funny except for Elaine.  She never ran down a steep embankment that fast in her life.  By the time she reached him for rescue, he stood up in a foot deep of water. He was wet, no dry clothes BUT it was funny as hell.

After May died, Walter eventually came to live full time with daughter Elaine.  He was never alone and never lonely.  Grandchildren, great grandchildren and assorted relatives would come over and visit.  He enjoyed sitting on the deck in the sun reading one of his many books or looking for deer when in Gibsons.  His friend Quinn would come over to play dominos, take him to the beach for lunch, out for pedicures and challenge him at pool.  Mya the dog was his daytime companion and Elaine faithfully watched the evening news with him when not working.  Son-in-law Roger always had another story to tell him while making his special dinners and tucking him in at night, it was their thing.  Dad’s life was full and filled with many adventures.  He is greatly missed by all but we take comfort in knowing that he has now joined his love Mary.

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