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Born February 23, 1926 in Edberg, Alberta, the eldest child of Robert Black and Emily Russell.  Our loving mother passed away July 23, 2008 in Penticton, B.C. with her family by her side. A kind and compassionate lady, Eileen enriched the lives of her family and many others. She grew up in West Vancouver with her two younger sisters, her Mom and Dad, and a large extended family. She attended business school after graduating from West Vancouver High and later worked at a bank and the YWCA. Eileen’s family relocated to Salmon Arm and it was on a visit there that she met her future husband, Jim Miltimore. The newlyweds moved to Summerland in late 1948 where they eventually raised six children on a mixed orchard in Trout Creek. Eileen provided invaluable support to Jim in his career as an Agricultural Research Scientist and in his many other endeavours. Jim’s work led them to Kamloops in 1970 and on to Agassiz in 1973 before they retired back to their Summerland home in 1985.  As a Mom, Eileen was a cherished role model, always available and proficient at balancing many parenting hats, from Girl Guides to PTA to typing university papers to making healthful meals on a shoestring. Retirement was filled with grandchildren, travel, and activism with the Electric Consumers’ Association. Eileen was a longtime member of TOPS/KOPS and practiced yoga for many years.  Pre-deceased by granddaughter Leah in 1978 and husband Jim in 1998, Eileen will be dearly missed by her six children and their spouses, Jane (Jim Grey), Anne (Gary Giroux), Earl (Joan Skelton), Maureen (Larry Green), Lee (Rose Miltimore), and Cherie (Richard Konwick), thirteen grandchildren Mike (Monica), Colleen (Wilfried), Trisha (Dominic), Kevin (Rebecca), David (Amy), Robert (Marissa), Erin (Adam), Matthew, William, Russel, Emily, Fraser, Makenzie, two great-granddaughters Makenna and Kesla and Jane’s stepfamily Debbie, Tracy, Sandy, and families. Eileen is also survived by her aunt Grace, sisters Colleen and Cherrie, sisters-in-law Ruth and Shirley, brothers-in-law Ralph and Rex, many nieces and nephews, an entire Irish clan, many Russell cousins, and special friend Marg Peschau. Many thanks to the dedicated staff at Westview South.

There are two gifts we give our children; one is roots, the other is wings.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday September 20, 2008 at 1pm in the Summerland United Church. No flowers by request. Donations can be made to South Okanagan Women in Need, the Chronic Pain Association of Canada, B.C. Children’s Hospital, or a charity of your choice if desired. 

Messages of Condolence may be sent to the family at hansons@shawcable.com

Arrangements entrusted to HANSONS’ ARBOR VALLEY FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICE 1-250-494-3202



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