Chris passed away peacefully at the age of 90 in the early hours of November 8, 2021, with loving wife, Adele at his side. Born in 1931 to a longtime Victoria family, Chris was the fifth and youngest child of Laurence and Grace Woodward. He is survived by wife, Adele and daughters, Kara Woodward (Philip Williams) and Hilary Woodward (John Cain) and grandchildren, Isabel, Rhys, Grace and Maeve. He is also survived by brother Frank Woodward and sisters, Connie Roberts and Felicity Morgan and numerous nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and sister Faith Reimer.
Married to Adele in 1955, they spent 66 years together raising their family and enjoying their grandchildren and many beloved cats through the years.
Chris will be remembered by his family as a fun and loving father and grandfather. He will also be remembered also by his many friends and colleagues at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs where he spent his 40 year career in the service of the Province of BC, starting in 1949 and ultimately retiring as deputy minister in 1988. In that time, Chris was instrumental in the incorporation and restructuring of numerous municipalities and regional districts and was well known and highly regarded by both local and provincial elected officials. Chris was honoured with a life membership in the Union of BC Municipalities on his retirement. Chris will also be remembered for his interest in British sports cars, his love of gardening and ability to fix almost anything.
The family would like to recognize and thank the staff at the Heights at Mt. View, particularly on Cook West, for their loving care and kindness to Chris.
No service by request. A family gathering will be held in the near future to remember Chris.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
http://www.mccallgardens.com
-
Richard Emery
-
Bob & Bev Darnell So very sad to read of Chris’s passing. It did bring back some very fond & happy memories when my bride & I were first married and lived in the Birchwood Apartments, Pandora Ave. in 1957/1959. Chris & Adele were the Managers. A great Guy, a great couple and lots of fun times in those “Good ole Days”.
-
Rob Rounds I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to Chris’s family and friends. I had the pleasure to work for Chris at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs from 1979 until his retirement in 1988. He was a strong advocate for the role and responsibility of Local Government in the Province, and was well respected by his peers in the Local Government field. He was also a visionary in the role the Ministry played and told me once “that if Local Governments want to undertake something on behalf of their constituents, and the constituents supported it, why shouldn’t the Province let them do it.” A nice man, a good person and a great leader.
Sorry to hear of the passing of Chris; my heart goes out to the family. I know Chris was a very special father and husband who was always very proud of his family……and his cars, garden and home.
I remember him best for his real calming effect those of us who were Kara’s friends during our wayward years of the 1980’s which was, in hindsight, a good thing!
We send our deepest sympathies to the family.