David Bryce Bosomworth

It is with great sadness that the family of David Bosomworth of Lumby BC announce his passing.  Dave died in hospice surrounded by family and friends on Friday May 26th after a short bout with pancreatic cancer

Dave is survived by his son Allan Johnson, his daughter-in-law Katie Stewart, his brother John Bosomworth ( Myrna ), and his nephew Mark Mason ( Terri and Fin ).  He also leaves behind his dear friends; Geoff Atkins, Gloria Christian, Lauren Cox and of course his cat; Kittie.  Dave was predeceased by his twin sister Dianne in 1949, his father Neil in 2008, and his mother Ruth in 2016.

Dave was born on Valentine’s Day February 14, 1945 to Ruth and Neil Bosomworth in Armstrong, BC.   Dave graduated from Armstrong High School in 1963 and went on to study Sociology, Psychology, and Theology at the University of British Columbia.

After graduating with a BA Dave first volunteered at Browndale Residential Treatment centre and then eventually ran the centre in Vancouver for four years. Dave returned to the University of British Columbia once again and graduated this time with a Masters of Social Work in 1978.  He then spent the next twenty years tirelessly working with  children under the care of the government of British Columbia in a variety of treatment centres and foster homes.  By the end of his career he was supervising six social workers in the care of Child Protection and Adoption, work he dearly loved.

In 1974, Dave met his future wife, Nancy while working together at Browndale. During their 25 year marriage Dave and Nancy adopted their son Allan at the age of 3 and also fostered Shane, a special needs child.

In 1998, Dave took an early retirement from Social Work and immediately began in earnest his final career, that of (as he playfully called it) “Director of Inner Childhood Memories.” While Dave creatively expressed himself in numerous ways (singing, playing piano and organ, working in stained glass, flower arranging, mask-making, provocative Facebook posts, and various acts of philanthropy) it was his love of writing that became his singular focus. Dave devoted the last 30 years of his life to the work of therapeutically transforming his pain and trauma into healing and art. In 2020, aware that his time on earth was coming to an end, he began the work of pouring through his hundreds of poems, essays, and novellas culling the best of the best for a special project, his Magnum Opus. Just two days before he died he successfully published his final gift to the world, a collection of 60 of his greatest poems in a poetic memoir entitled, Before I Fly Away: The Remains of My Stay.

Anyone wishing to purchase Dave’s book can do so at https://davidbosomworth.com/

The family would also like to thank and acknowledge the work of the people at Parkwood Retirement Resorts and the nurses and volunteers of NOHS North Okanagan Hospice Society/Hospice House of Vernon, BC who provided such loving care in the last weeks of Dave’s life.”

A Celebration of Life event will be held in August. The family requests memorial dona- tions be made to White Valley Community Resource Centre, an organization Dave felt strongly about. ( whitevalley.ca )

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-558-0866

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: