George
left us peacefully at the age of 92 having lived a full and meaningful life.
Born
in Blackburn, England in 1920 George joined the elite Coldstream Guards
and served in Africa and Italy during the Second World War. Upon returning home he joined the Blackburn Borough Police until
1948 when he emigrated to Canada and found a position with the Vancouver City
Police where he stayed until his retirement in 1980.
George was known as the "Laughing Policeman" as he always found
humour in life, he loved his time on the force and loved to tell stories
of police life in Vancouver during those 30 years served, he turned his
stories into poems and published "Poetic Diary of Constable #77
retired". In 1954 George and other officers founded the
Vancouver Police Motorcycle Drill Team and the team would practice 2 hours
every week on their own time under the instruction of Trev Deeley. He was
actively involved with the Shriners for 35 years. George was loved by his
family and friends and will be missed by all.
The
family is deeply grateful to the staff of the Finnish Manor in Burnaby for
their kind and loving care of George in his final days.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the
family
GRATEFUL
I am grateful for the friendship
of the people in my life
I am grateful for the sharing
with a warm and devoted wife
I am grateful for the long life
that I have endured with little pain
I am grateful that I have the brains
to come in from the rain
I am grateful for the sunshine
that brightens up my day
which brings out all the foliage
in a magnificent way
I am grateful for much more
things I haven't penned
to this long and wondrous life
that seems to be no end
For all the happy memories
I can still share with a friend
keeps me happy and content
and will to the very end.
George Burton -- May 8th, 2007
