Obituaries

Passed peacefully at Victoria General Hospital of cancer. Ned was born in Kamloops but grew up in Victoria attending Lampson Elementary, St. Louis College, Central Jr. Secondary and Esquimalt Highschool. The youngest of five children, he is predeceased by his father John Alexander, mother Agnes Sophia (nee Paul), sisters Evelyn Sophia Osbourn, Marnie Marie Stewart, brother John Harold Whittla, and grandson David Allen McKenzie.

He is survived by his current wife of more than eighteen years, Andrena Gale Whittla (Mungham / nee Aldom) who was with him at his side when he passed, as well as his sister Lorine E. Young, his first wife Sharon Whittla (nee Lundquist) and their four children, spouses and grandchildren: Brett (Ray); Derek (Karol), grandson Owen, great-grandson Austin; Louise (Phil), granddaughter Rowen; and Grant (Martha), grandsons Curtis and Mitchell. He is also survived by his youngest son Justin Coutange who resides in England.

Dad’s early years were spent with the army cadet corps of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s), eventually joining the regiment’s militia branch in 1957, attaining the rank of Corporal before his release in 1961. In civilian life he sailed with Canadian Pacific Steamships plying the coastal waters between Victoria and Vancouver. He later worked with the Hudson’s Bay Company in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan throughout the 1960s becoming a senior department manager, and after returning to Vancouver in the 1970s, earned his degree as a Certified General Accountant at the University of British Columbia in 1981. He would further his studies in later years attaining a Masters in Business Administration in 1995. His career spanned both the private and public sector, retiring in 2005 as a senior financial analyst with the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development. He was an avid sports fisherman, whether it was trolling for salmon on the south BC coast or fishing the remote lakes of northern Saskatchewan and BC.

Dad was a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was proud to have four of his children, and a grandchild, serve at various times in the Canadian Forces (both regular and reserve forces), three of whom served concurrently (along with his nephew Ethan) with his old regiment the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s). After returning to Victoria in the late 80’s, dad returned to the Regimental family, becoming a member of the Canadian Scottish Regimental Association, serving in various capacities including Vice-President and President. He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion (Trafalgar/Pro Patria Branch #292).

He was especially proud in recent years to have been invited to Rideau Hall in Ottawa, by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnson, Governor General of Canada, to witness the investiture of Major (then Captain) E.G. Whittla, MMM, CD, his second youngest son, into the Order of Military Merit. He will be missed by those who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Canadian Cancer Society or to the Victoria General Hospital Foundation, Neurosciences Department.