Wilfred James ( Jim ) Doyle was born in Edmonton on October 10, 1928. He was the youngest of a very large family. Within a few years the Doyles moved west, settling in Vancouver, where Jim completed his schooling. As he was growing up he had a keen interest in airplanes. He was hired by TCA ( now Air Canada ) as a passenger agent in 1947 but soon joined the RCAF where he trained and qualified as a pilot. While stationed in Regina, the handsome young pilot met a beautiful young nurse, Doreen Schell. It was love at first sight. They married in 1952. Within a year the Doyle family began to expand, first with Mary ( Tim ), then Joan ( John ), Ruth ( Bill ), Jim ( Wenda ), Brian ( Karen ), Bernie, Gregory ( deceased ), Tom and Bob. He returned to TCA/AC as an airline pilot until his retirement in 1978. He remained in the travel business, opening travel agencies and taking group tours around the world. Jim’s greatest joy and inspiration was his family. The love between Jim and Doreen never wavered. He instilled the love of family in his children ( and their spouses and their children ) and this was his great legacy, of which he was justifiably proud. Apart from family, Jim’s passions were debating, storytelling ( including an expertise in corny jokes ), reading, golf and travel. He had an eternal intellectual and spiritual curiosity. Jim and Doreen travelled widely and Jim made a point of taking each of his children on special trips around the globe. Jim was always optimistic and had a gentle spirit. He had a great sense of humour and was well liked by everyone he met. He was liberal in his views and generous in his time with family and the many close friends he made along the way. After a short hospitalization, Jim passed with dignity, grace and peace on Sept 10, 2017, surrounded by his family and beloved Doreen. He was able to have a special connection with each of his children in the last days of his life. No words can capture a life but the strong family connections with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren speak to the great love Jim and Doreen shared for so many years. He will be greatly missed and long remembered.
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Donna MacDonald
Your Uncle Mike and I (Aunt Donna) feel your pain as you mourn the loss of Bryan’s father.
We wish you faith, love and strength.
Jim Schell
We send our sincere condolences to Aunt Doreen and the entire Doyle families on the loss of a great person
Jim and Annetta and Family
Denise Doyle (Red and Kath)
I have such fond memories of Uncle Wilf (as we knew him then) coming to visit my parents after returning from what we imagined to be very exotic trips. Then flying was far more romantic than it is today. The special thing about him was that he always had little rolls of peppermint lifesavers in his pocket which he gladly distributed to a gang of kids hanging on his every word. With his passing we mark the end of a long line of Doyles and miss all of them. Good wishes to Aunt Doreen and all her children.
Don and Nancy Carroll
We have shared many lively and thoughtful conversations with Jim in various Kerrisdale coffee shops over the past few years, and we will miss him so much. His deep and abiding love for Doreen and all of his family was always very evident and inspirational, and our thoughts are with all of you now.
Susan Naja
Bry, Kar, Doreen and all the Doyle family, Loving tender thoughts to all of you at this great loss in your family. May you find peace and surrender to these ways of nature knowing that Mr. Doyle is in the loving heart of all creation from which he sprung, and at the same time forever in your own hearts. May you take comfort in the celebration of the fine life and contributions which your beloved one Mr. Jim Doyle: husband, father, grandfather, uncle and good friend offered of himself. I had the true pleasure of spending an evening with Doreen, Mrs. Doyle, a clear seeing and true hearted woman with a great strength of spirit. I honour the many years and challenges which she has faced, to forge her beauty. She is a great tree, whose roots source nourishment from a deep. My condolences and love.
Don Wilson
Marlene and Don Wilson lived next door to Jim and Doreen at Waterside condos on SE Marine Drive. They were fantastic neighbors who became friends. Jim’s sunny disposition made him a cheerful man whose stories we loved to hear. We shared a strong Christian faith, theirs Catholic, ours Baptist, but we all loved the same God, and we had lots of interesting discussions. Jim was a good man who will be missed by ALL who knew him.