July 15, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
Fred Moore of Tsawwassen, B.C., passed away one year ago, on July 15, 2023. He was 94.
Fred was born in Victoria, B.C. in 1928, to Alex and Jessie (Bennie) Moore. He was their first born and would be followed by six sisters. His boyhood in Trail B.C. left him with lifelong memories of fishing, hunting, and air cadets. After completing his senior matric in 1947, Fred attended Royal Roads Military College, near Victoria, graduated in 1949, joined the RCAF, and received his pilot wings in April 1950. In 1952-53, he undertook additional training with the USAF at Edwards Airforce Base where he received a diploma for experimental flight testing. At 24 years old, he became their youngest-ever graduate.
On July 28, 1958 in Ottawa, Fred met Michaeline. They married on April 4, 1959, in Ealing, U.K. Together they had four sons and lived in Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and, after 1970, Tsawwassen, B.C.
Aviation was his life-long career. He joined Okanagan Helicopters in 1970. As an executive, he worked with his colleagues to grow the company into one of the world's largest rotor-wing service providers.
Fred had a passion for the outdoors, for hunting and fishing, the open prairie skies, the dry heat of summer, the salty air of the ocean, and the brilliant sun on a crisp winter day.
In 2014, Fred Moore was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame, an honor that gave him comfort at times when he missed "the good old days."
Predeceased in 2020 by Michaeline, his loving wife of 61 years, Fred is survived by his four sons, Allen, Michael, David, and Rod, by his three sisters, Sylvia, Martha, and Pam, by his grandchildren and great grandchild, and by his cherished Springer Spaniel, Finnegan.