Tribute

George Edward Fielding

March 3, 1948 – April 4, 2025

The family of George Edward Fielding is deeply saddened to announce his passing on April 4, 2025 at age 77. George fought a valiant battle against ALS and Alzheimer’s. He passed away in Chilliwack, BC, surrounded by his loving family.

George was the son of Robert George Fielding of Liverpool, England, and Melba Joyce Harkness of Belmore, Sydney, NSW, Australia, who met in Australia during WWII. Bob and Joyce first settled in Liverpool while Bob completed his service with the Royal Navy. They welcomed son Robert in 1946 before returning to Joyce’s native Australia the following year. George joined the family in 1948 in Canberra, followed by John in 1952. In 1954, the family immigrated to Canada, settling in Burlington, Ontario, where Bob  worked as an electrician at the Dofasco steel mill. George had many fond memories of growing up in Burlington and Stoney Creek, including the famous Dofasco family Christmas parties and family camping and fishing trips, especially to Algonquin Provincial Park. George’s love of travel started with grand family adventures in the 1960s, including a trip to New York City in 1962, a cross-continent road trip to Southern California in 1964 and a steamer trip to Australia, with a stop in Hawaii, in 1965.

After working at various jobs, including as a warehouse labourer at Mackenzie & Fraser, George was accepted to the RCMP in 1973. After graduating from Depot in February 1974, he was posted to Grand Forks, BC. It was at Grand Forks Detachment in 1975 that George met the love of his life, Robbie Smithers. George and Robbie infamously went on their first date just before George was transferred to Coquitlam Detachment, then became engaged less than a month later when George returned to take Robbie on a second date. They were married in Grand Forks in May 1976 and set up their first home in Port Coquitlam. They would soon start a family, welcoming daughters Robin and Kelly and son Patrick, and building a house in Maple Ridge. George and Robbie also started taking the kids on their own family adventures, road tripping to Yellowstone and several treks down the Pacific Coast. After transferring from Coquitlam, George worked at Port Mann Freeway Patrol and Maple Ridge Detachment, where he was known for staring down speeders with his intense blue eyes from behind the radar gun.

In 1989, George promoted to Nanaimo Detachment and the family made the move to the Island. The first year brought many challenges, including serious health issues for George, but the family came to love living on the Island, particularly being near the ocean. George and Robbie took the kids on more Griswold-esque family road trips around the Island and throughout Western Canada and the States, sharing many wonderful  experiences and creating countless cherished memories along the way. The family also enjoyed several NHL, NFL, MLB and NCAA games in Vancouver and Seattle.

George would later serve at detachments in Midway, Langley and Chilliwack, where he retired in 2008. He would spend another five years working as a bylaw officer with the City of Abbotsford before he and Robbie fully retired in 2013. They settled in Chilliwack to be close to their treasured grandchildren. George and Robbie spent their retirement enjoying their getaway place on the Oregon Coast, where the family shared so many special moments, and going on greater adventures across North and Central America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.

George faced several health obstacles throughout his adult life, but always fought through and persevered. He was a true warrior and defined what it meant to be a survivor. In 2023, he was diagnosed with both ALS and Alzheimer’s and faced his toughest battle, one he fought with voracity and tremendous courage. George will be fondly remembered for his love of travel & adventure, the great outdoors, North American muscle cars, and playing and watching sports, especially NFL football; his inverted food pyramid (“sugar is my number one food group”); his enjoyment of simple pleasures like old fashioned “Betty Crocker” cakes with LOTS of icing and burgers and pizza with a cold “real” CocaCola or an occasional Bellini; his Muttley laugh; all of his little “George-isms”; his ability to always have the answer to your question; and as a mentor to many young Mounties throughout his career. Most of all, George will be lovingly remembered for his deep love for and devotion to his family, his strong work ethic and ability to overcome obstacles, and his humble ways.

George was predeceased by his father Robert, mother Joyce, mother-in-law Kay Smithers, father-in-law Robert “Buster” Smithers, younger brother John, two sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law. George is mourned and dearly missed by Robbie (“Kitten”), his beloved and devoted wife of almost 49 years; daughters Robin (“Bug”) and Kelly (“Weed”) and son Patrick (“Spud”), who thoroughly adored their dad; son-in-law Shaun Collard (“Shiny”), who had deep admiration and respect for George; grandchildren Colton (“Colt”), Aubrey (“Tiger”) and Natalie (“The Tiny Terror”), who loved their papa beyond description; granddogs Bailey and Boston, who always enjoyed sharing some nibbles of papa’s meals (and he secretly loved it, too); brother Robert Fielding; sisters-in-law Carol Lowrie, Joy Fielding and Janet Fielding; brother-in-law Joe Tatangelo; and several nieces and nephews in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Australia.

The family would like to thank family physicians Dr David Fitzpatrick and Dr Daniel Botha for their ongoing care and support of George; the staff at Chilliwack General Hospital and Ridge Meadows Hospital; Dr Christine Stables and her ALS team in Vancouver; respirologist Dr Shaun Ong; RCMP chaplain Tim Schroeder for his guidance and support with George’s internment; Veterans Affairs Canada for their additional support to George and Robbie the last year; and Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the ALS Society of BC, the Alzheimer’s Society of BC, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the National Police Federation Benevolent Foundation. A private internment will take place in Oliver, BC on April 17, followed by a celebration of life in early June.

We pray that George/Dad/Papa is finally resting easy and enjoying eternal strolls on the beach at Winchester Bay, endless paddles on the lakes of Algonquin Park, and never ending road trips cruising the open highway, hopefully in a Corvette, while humming along to “Turn! Turn! Turn!” like he did on so many family road trips. Love you forever.