December 7, 1930 - May 29, 2023
In Loving Memory ~
John Albert Samuel Ebert passed away at the Williams Lake, BC hospital on May 29, 2023, with his daughter Judy by his side. Dad was born Dec 7, 1930 in Smithers, BC.
He was known as Sam to all in Smithers, and went by John to all others.
Dad married Audrey Aileen Turrill on June 4, 1954 in Edmonton, Alberta. Audrey (born April 1, 1929 in Edmonton) predeceased John on January 28, 2019 in Sidney, BC.
Flying was Dad's true passion in life. Dad left Smithers in 1947 and worked the tug boats out of Vancouver until 1950 to pay for his flying lessons. In his early flying days (1950-1956) John was mainly a bush pilot for mining interests and remote Northern Canada community supply.
In 1956 Dad began his oil industry flying career with Shell Oil in Edmonton, then Mobil Oil in Libya, Calgary, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia, and also Pan-Arctic in Calgary. In the mid-1970s he flew several years with the BC Government, based in Sidney, BC. He also had brief careers flying with Iran Air and Egypt Air. He became proficient in the flying of the Otter, Beaver, DC-3, F-27, King Air, Dash-7, Dash-8, and Electra prop aircraft, and the Citation corporate jets.
By the mid-1980s John and Audrey retired to Sidney and resided there until Audrey's passing in January 2019. Dad relocated to Kamloops in 2019 to be closer to family.
John is survived by all of his children, Ric Ebert (Joanne) of Clearwater, Judy Newbery (Bruce) of Williams Lake, Pat Ebert (France) of Kamloops, and James Ebert (Leslie) of Little Harbour, NS.
He is survived by his grandchildren Coreen Henson (Steve) & Christopher Ebert both of Prince George, Derrick Goertz (Laura) & Scott Goertz both of Williams Lake, Sean Ebert (Megan) of Lawrencetown, NS., and by his step-grandchildren Jennifer Huyder (Jason), Craig Shook (Liz), Naomi Shook, and Teresa Shook (Matt).
Dad is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren, 8 step-great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
John is survived by 3 brothers, William Ebert (Gail) of Armstrong, Phillip Ebert (Marjie) of Salmon Arm, and Kenny Ebert of Salmon Arm.
He was predeceased by his brothers Pat Ebert (Sandra), Harold Ebert (Audrey), and his sister Marion Ebert.
As per Dad's wishes there will be no funeral or memorial services.