Tribute

S. David B. Percival passed away peacefully on Monday, October 29th, 2012 with family at his side. He was born on August 2nd, 1925 in Northampton, England, the third of three children, son of Sydney and Irene Percival.   After grammar school in Northampton, David joined the British merchant navy in 1943 and, saw convoy duty in the North Atlantic and later traveled to many parts of the world as a ship’s officer, including the South Pacific.   During this time he met his wife, Myra, through his brother, John, and they were married in 1950.   David gave up his seagoing career in 1949 to start as an apprentice electrical engineer with BTH in Rugby, England. The young couple bought a small cottage in Guillsborough, Northamptonshire, where their first son, Michael, was born in 1953.  David pursued his apprenticeship, eventually attaining Professional Engineer certification.  The family then moved to Heswall, Cheshire, near Liverpool, where their second and third sons, Adrian and Robert, were born.  David next was promoted to the export department of AEI, a large British electrical engineering firm, and worked in central London.  The family moved to Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, where a daughter, Fiona, was born. This new position enabled David to secure a job in Auckland, in order to fulfill a long-held dream of emigrating to New Zealand, which he had visited during the war.  The family voyaged to Takapuna, New Zealand in 1963, where a second daughter, Joanne, was born.  After five years in New Zealand, the family emigrated again, this time to Vancouver, British Columbia, where they made their permanent home.  David and Myra devoted themselves to bringing up their family in this new environment.   In Vancouver, David worked for ASEA, the Swedish electrical engineering giant, for many years, before joining BC Hydro.   David retired in 1985, and moved with Myra to their new home in Lion’s Bay, where they could enjoy a fine view of Howe Sound, and watch the family expand and develop.  David will be dearly missed by his five married children, his eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.   A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 10th at 12:30 pm in the Oasis auditorium at Elim Village (9008-158th Street, Surrey, BC).  A light reception with friends and family will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of B.C. would be appreciated.

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