Obituary of Gwen Westcombe

November 4, 1931 – Tilston, Manitoba

January 17, 2025 – Calgary, Alberta

Gwen Westcombe, beloved wife and partner of the late Harvey Westcombe, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2025, at the age of 93 years.

Gwen was born in Tilston, MB, on November 4, 1931, to Carman Miller and Arline “Orly” Miller (nee Johnston).  She was the second eldest of six. She had two brothers, Bill and Jack, and three sisters, Audrey, Anne, and Isobel. Gwen grew up and lived in Tilston and Reston, MB, before she moved to Alberta in 1967, eventually settling in the Varsity community in Calgary in 1990.  More recently, she had enjoyed life at the Manor Village in Varsity for the past seven years.

Gwen graduated from high school in Reston, MB, in 1947, where she met her first love, Robert (Bob) Clark. They married in 1951.  Throughout their 27 years of marriage, they were blessed with their sons, Blaine and Frank, and their daughters, Lynn and Wendy.  She was predeceased by her husband Bob in 1978. From there she moved forward as the main receptionist at Imperial Oil, in downtown Calgary, from 1978 to 1990, where she met her late husband, Harvey Westcombe. They married at Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church in 1990, where they volunteered much of their free time, until Harvey’s passing in 1996. They enjoyed their years together, with family and travel adventures. Gwen was a member of the Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, the Eastern Star, and an active community volunteer.

She enjoyed bowling, playing bridge, golfing, knitting, cooking, attending the theatre, travelling, having fun, and happy hours. She will be most remembered and missed for her smile, strength, positive attitude, and her skill and ability to overcome obstacles. She was a loving, caring and generous person, who never complained. She was the epitome of the values that make us human: courage, strength, resilience and kindness.

Gwen is survived by her two daughters, Lynn Schmid, of California, USA and Wendy van der Linden (Lloyd) of Calgary, AB; son Blaine Clark (Lorraine) of Millarville,  AB; daughter-in-law Linda Clark of Calgary, AB, her six grandchildren, Amy Clark, Jenny Bell Orr, Evan Clark, Cory van der Linden, Tannis Mullin, and Tracy Erickson; ten great-grandchildren, Clark, Norman, Madeline, Hazel, Otto, Madison, Hudson, Colton, Kaydence and Colby. She is also survived by her brother Bill Miller and his wife, Alma Wilson, and her sisters, Audrey Owen, and Anne Berry.

Gwen was predeceased by her parents, Carman and Orly Millar, her two husbands, Harvey Westcombe and Bob Clark, and her son Frank.

Funeral Services will be held at Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church (4612 Varsity Dr NW, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the hall at the church.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Foothills Country Hospice Society, P.O. Box 274, Okotoks, AB, T1S 1S1, Telephone: (403) 995-4673, www.countryhospice.org, or the Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, VAPC.ca, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Gwen’s family here.

In living memory of Gwen Westcombe, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.