Ray’s Life

Raymond James Crompton was born December 8, 1921 and died peacefully, surrounded by family, early on the morning of December 6, 2009.

As a young man, Ray and his wife Margaret started a family, built a home, a number of weekend outposts and a successful hardwood floor business. He loved his work and took pride in it. Vancouver is full of hardwood floors that Ray Crompton and his men installed. He was respected in the industry for his integrity and knowledge, and he was loved by the people at BC Hardwood Floors.

Before joining the Air Force during WW 2, Ray and his friend George Wood would hike up Mt Seymour on weekends, with Margo in tow, where they built a log ski cabin at the 3000 ft level. Ever the mountaineers, he and his buddies also managed to make the first winter ski ascent of Mt Garibaldi. Later, Ray and Margo traveled farther afield: he descended into silver mine in Mexico, rode camels in Egypt, skied the slopes of Sun Valley, parasailed in Hawaii, rafted the Colorado River, and hiked Table Mountain in South Africa and later settled in Palm Springs for fun in the sun. A large part of Ray and Marg’s social life revolved around a group of pals that Ray met in the service. The “Air Force Gang” were wild, zany and proved to be enduring friends till the end.

Ray loved to spend time with his family and many others who became family – at Gambier in the summertime and skiing at Whistler in the winter. A passionate skier, Ray loved the “thrill of the turn” and led many “technique runs” with ragged trails of grandchildren following behind. To his grandchildren, Ray was a source of love, support, and sometimes embarrassment. During his final weeks in hospital, when wasn’t trying to flog off dead hardwood inventory, Ray tried to set up his single male grandsons with any nurse between the ages of 18 and 50. He always took a keen interest in the lives, loves, and education of his brood.

Ray leaves behind his wife of 65 years Margo; sister Betty; sons Ken (Susan), Don (Victoria) and daughter Barbara (Garry); eight grandchildren, Jackson (Carolyn), Ben, Daniel, Mike, Greg, Kate, Nicole, Tim; and great-grandchildren, Georgia, Maggie, Ivan Raymond, and Harriet.

We are so thankful for the loving care Ray received in his last months: palliative care doctor Beverly Spring and social worker Harry Segal, ensured Ray was in the best place he could be during his last days; palliative care nurses Dorothee, Leslie, and Michelle for their compassionate care; Ray’s family doctor, Williard Johnston, whose many late-night home visits comforted Ray and his family; and the countless nurses and doctors who knew and cared for Ray on his way to another adventure.

SOMETIMES THE GOOD DIE OLD.