BCTLA Honorary Life Member (1989)
Born on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924, in Saskatoon, Sask., passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday morning, February 8, 2004, following a short, but valiant fight with cancer. Grace was a life-long learner, earning a B.A. in English, Certificate of Education, and Bachelor and Masters of Library Science. Between the years of 1947 and 1971, she taught at various elementary and secondary schools throughout the Okanagan, and from 1971 - 1989 she was a full-time librarian at Harwood Elementary School in Vernon, B.C. from which she retired. She served as an officer in several teachers and librarians associations. Other activities included book reviewing and editing, sessional teaching at the University of Regina, U.Vic and U.B.C. Among numerous awards and honours, Grace was awarded the Margaret Scott Award of Merit by the Canadian School Library Association in 1986. Grace married Jacob (Jack) Abram Funk, who was also a teacher and WWII army veteran, on July 23, 1945 in Maple Creek, Sask. They lived in Ladysmith, B.C., where their first son, Michael was born in 1946. They next moved to Agassiz, B.C. and soon afterwards purchased a farm just east of Lumby, B.C. in 1949. Two more sons were born there, Jonathan, in 1951, and David, in 1953. After Jack's death in November 2001, Grace eventually sold the farm and moved in May 2003 to Coquitlam to be near her family. Grace was a devoted and very active member of the Anglican Church of Canada, served as a member of the parish council; warden and lay minister at St. James the Less, Lumby, B.C. A lifelong interest in reading resulted in a large collection of books primarily in science fiction/fantasy, mystery, and the humanities. Other interests included playing with her computer, traveling, collecting stamps, turtles, spoons, and other objects. Her best know collection was the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and related materials. Marquette University Archives, Milwaaukee, Wisconsin, recently purchased this collection. Her Grandsons, Shaun (13), Ryan (10), and Kevin (8), were at the top of her agenda in recent years and they will fondly remember going down all the Atlantis watersides every summer with grandma. Predeceased by her husband, Jack, and her parents, George and Edna (Davis) Tomlinson, her brothers-in-law, John and Peter Funk, grace is lovingly remembered by her sisters, Marion Kingston and Shirley Paine, her sons Michael, David, and Jonathan and his wife Colleen Butterley, and their sons, Shaun, Ryan, and Kevin, bother-in-law, Abe Funk, and his wife Hilde, sisters-in-law, Betty Funk and Pearl Dyke, and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and many friends worldwide.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Anglican Church of St. James the Less, P.O. Box 351, Lumby, B.C. V0E 2G0. Services of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2004, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the St. Stephen the Martyr, 9887 Cameron St., Burnaby, B.C. and on Saturday, February 28, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of St. James the Less, 2193 Park St., Lumby, B.C. Henderson's Funeral Home, Langley, B.C. 604-530-6488
