Olive Mildred Lumley1

#53, b. 4 February 1916, d. 16 June 1998

Father*Earl Woodly Lumley1,2
Mother*Sarah Jane (?)2
Olive Mildred Lumley|b. 4 Feb 1916\nd. 16 Jun 1998|p29.htm|Earl Woodly Lumley||p345.htm|Sarah Jane (?)||p1405.htm|||||||||||||

Birth*Olive Mildred Lumley was born on 4 February 1916 at Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada.1,3 
IllnessShe was ill with polio in 1933 and walked with crutches for the rest of her life.4,5,2 
Ed/CollegeShe attended college at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and received a BA in politics and economics.4 
Marriage*She married Dr. William Robert Woodley, son of William Woodley and Mary Louisa Steele, on 27 June 1946 at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.5,6,7 
Moved*1954, Olive Mildred Lumley and Dr. William Robert Woodley moved to Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, and then to Vancouver. Their children Kathleen Elizabeth and Sarah Patricia were with them.8 
Moved In 1960, Olive Mildred Lumley and Dr. William Robert Woodley moved to Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Their children Kathleen Elizabeth, Sarah Patricia and Janet Anne were with them.1,8 
Divorce*She and Dr. William Robert Woodley were divorced in 1983 at Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.5 
NoteIn 1985, Olive was named the Good Citizen of the Year at Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.4 
Death*She died at home on 16 June 1998 at 8509 Fitzmaurice Drive, Coldstream (Vernon), British Columbia, Canada, at age 82.9,1 
Burial*She was cremated at Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.1 
ObituaryHer obituary read as follows:

Olive Mildred Lumley Woodley passed away peacefully in her home in Coldstream, Tuesday, June 16, 1998, surrounded by her loving and devoted family. She is survived by her daughters: Kathleen Woodley (Bill Heidrick); Tish Woodley; and Janet Woodley (John Rook); her grand-daughter, Olivia Woodley-Rook; and her sister, Betty McGregor. She was pre-deceased by her daughters' father, Bob Woodley.

Born in Rosthern, Saskatchewan on February 5, 1916, Olive and her family moved to Vernon in 1960, and over the next 25 years she worked unstintingly for the benefit of this communtiy as founding member (1975) and president (1977-83) of the Vernon Community Music School; as founding member (1969) and president (1971-75, 1979-83) of the Social Planning Council; as organizer of the "Showcase of the Arts" (1968-71), now known as Creative Chaos; as organizer and Chair of the Okanagan Conference on International Affairs (1963-71); as well as working actively for other social and cultural organizatyions, including the Community Concerts Association, the Chamber Music Society, the Okanagan Symphony Society, the Okanagan Mainline Regional Arts Council, the Women's Canadian Club and the University Women's Club. As chairman of the Vernon Housing Association (1971-80), Olive oversaw the construction of Wolsey House (now Sharon Court), Vernon's first low-rental apartment complex.

Olive's public spiritedness also took her into the political arena, as member of Coldstream's first Advisory Planning Commission (1967-69) as well as Coldstream alderman (1974-75); as member of the Okanagan Basin Water Study Public Participation Task Force (1969-73), and member of the Implementation Taks Force (1976-80); as well as her two appointments to the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission (1975-76, 1983-84).

In 1985 Olive was named Vernon's Good Citizen in recognition of her commitment to her community; and in 1993 she was awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation in honor of the significant contribution she had made to her community.

Although in recent years her health kept her close to home, Olive took to 'surfing the net', connecting via cyberspace to discussion groups on her favorite subjects of politics and economics.

As Olive requested, there will be no funeral service (cremation); and in lieu of flowers, friends wishing to do so may make donations to the Vernon Food Bank, 3303-32 Avenue, Vernon V1T 2M7.

Olive's friends and associates are invited to a Memorial Gathering at the Woodley residence on Sunday, July 19th, 1998, between 1 - 4p.m.1

 

Notes*Some of the groups with which Olive was associated were the Community Arts Council, Okanagan College - Vernon Campus, the Okahagan-Mainline Regional Arts Council, the University Women's Club, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Redistribution Commission B.C., the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan, and the Vernon Community Music School.4 
Occupation*She was a homemaker, piano teacher, and political activist.4,5 

Family

Dr. William Robert Woodley b. 14 Nov 1918, d. 12 Jul 1995
Children
  • Kathleen Elizabeth Woodley10,5
  • Sarah Patricia Woodley5
  • Janet Anne Woodley+ b. 2 Nov 1956, d. 4 Jul 2002

Citations:

  1. [S70] Morning Star, 21 June 1998, page 50.
  2. [S598] Email, Kathleen Elizabeth Woodley to Margaret May Bailey, 6 July 2008.
  3. [S565] Email, Patricia (Tish) Woodley to Margaret May Bailey, 2 February 2008.
  4. [S128] The Morning Star, Vernon, British Columbia, July 1998.
  5. [S349] Personal knowledge of Margaret May Bailey.
  6. [S591] Email, Patricia (Tish) Woodley to Margaret May Bailey, 30 June 2008.
  7. [S605] Email, Patricia (Tish) Woodley to Margaret May Bailey, 9 August 2008.
  8. [S337] Email, Kathleen Elizabeth Woodley to Margaret May Bailey, 3 November 2000.
  9. [S50] Email, Kathleen Elizabeth Woodley to Margaret May Bailey, 17 June 1998.
  10. [S214] Letter, Kathleen Elizabeth Woodley to Edith Woodley Bailey, 13 April 1947.