Francis Gordon Driver

Worshipful Brother

(1890 - 18 September 1976)

Temple Lodge, No.33

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(*A photo of Worshipful Brother Driver will be posted shortly*)

Worshipful Brother Francis Gordon Driver was born in Victoria, B.C. in 1890. He worked in sales for R.P. Rithet & Co., started by Brother Robert P. Rithet later for Wilson Brothers, started by Brother Biggerstaff Wilson. Both firms were leading Victoria businesses the early 20th century.

Wor. Brother Driver appears to have moved to Duncan, B.C. about 1928 and gone into the grocery business with his brother in a firm called Duncan Grocery. He first appears in Temple Lodge, No.33 records in 1930. Temple Lodge records also show a Brother Henry W. Driver as a member of the Lodge. We will do more research to determine whether Henry W. Driver was Wor. Bro. Driver's brother and business partner.

Wor. Brother Francis Driver served Temple Lodge as Senior Steward (1931), Junior Deacon (1932), Senior Deacon (1934), Junior Warden (1935), Senior Warden (1936), Worshipful Master in 1937 and Treasurer (1939).

Here is some biographical information about Worshipful Brother Francis Gordon Driver taken from Temple Lodge, No.33 records and from other sources:

“DRIVER - Francis Gordon on September 18, 1976 at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital. He was born in Victoria in 1890.

He leaves one brother Henry and a sister Mrs. Margaret Dixon both of Victoria, one daughter Mrs. Bob Fawdry (Evelyn) of Saltair, three grandsons and wives; Eric and Norma Fawdry of Nanaimo, Neil and Lorraine of Victoria and Glenn and Jan of Kelowna.

He also leaves five great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In the early 1920's he was a commercial traveller for the R. P. Rithet Co. travelling on the Maquinna up the West Coast - later for Wilson Bros, on the Island and In 1928 he joined his brother as a partner in Duncan Grocery, Duncan. Upon retirement in 1948 he took up residence in Nanaimo and later in Lantzville.

He was predeceased by his wife Carrie in 1970, and returned to Nanaimo where he resided until the time of his passing. He was a past master of Temple Lodge A.F. & A.M. Duncan.

Private family services were held. Flowers are gratefully declined, donations in his memory may be made to the Red Cross, c-o Col. B. Howard, Commissioner, Canadian Red Cross, 4750 Oak Street, Vancouver. Arrangements through the Memorial Society of B.C. and First Memorial Services Ltd., Nanaimo.”

Source: Obituaries file-1976, Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives