May 9, 1933 - June 28, 2021
Fay and his twin sister Fran were born in Maidstone, SK to Edward and Josephine Sholinder. Besides Fran, Fay had an older brother Lawrence, and two older sisters, Elsie and Betty. As a young man, Fay moved to Smithers, BC where he met Kay Huntington and they were married in 1958. They had four children, Gerry, Blaine, Joan and Murray.
Fay became a partner in Smithers Electric and was active in the Community as a volunteer Fireman, played baseball, curled and coached men's hockey. It was in Smithers, that Fay took up the sport of Golf which was to become a lifelong passion - that and watching his beloved Blue Jays.
In early 1972 they moved to Salmon Arm, BC. Fay originally rented a house for the family at the bottom of Raven Hill across the tracks on the beach. That year became ingrained on the family memory forever - it was the year of the big flood and the house was surrounded by water up to the railway tracks. Memories abound of Fay setting up a log boom around the house to protect it from floating debris, building a dock from the back door to accommodate a boat to ferry the family to dry ground, and setting up sump pumps in the basement.
This was all done by a Prairie Boy who did not know how to swim and was afraid of the water. While this seemed like a huge adventure to the kids, looking back it was quite a feat that was done without government or landlord assistance. Fay was innovative and never afraid of hard work.
In 1975 Fay and Kay opened another store called Fayden Electric. In the early 1980's Fay sold the store and then in 1982 he got his dream job - helping to expand and build the Salmon Arm Golf Course. The new 18 hole Course as it exists today, was built in 2 phases, and Fay was the Works Supervisor.
Fay also served as a Director of the newly formed Salmon Arm Golf Club Society. Fay was also very involved with the Salmon Arm Curling Club. He and Kay had many great memories of bonspiels, dances and good times at both the Golf Club and the Curling Rink.
In the late 1970's Fay and Kay purchased a motorhome and started their travelling adventures. They had many happy years exploring California and Arizona in particular, meeting up with friends and family and well as making many new friends, which they always did wherever they went.
By the mid 1990's Fay was retired and doing volunteer work, mainly with the Golf Club, where he was the de facto building maintenance man. In the last few years of his life, although he was no longer able to golf, he invariably showed up on Senior's Day and was there to start the coffee pot and visit. It was his home away from home.
Fay kept himself up to date on current events, both locally and on the national and international scene. He read the paper every day up until his final days. He thought it important to stay engaged. Fay was loyal, a good family man, hard working with a great sense of humour.
While he believed in working hard he also believed life was to be enjoyed and in his final days, the words of solace he offered friends and family alike was that he had had a good life. His legacy of living a full and purposeful life has invariably passed on to his children and grandchildren.
Fay is survived by his wife Kay, his sons Blaine (Sandy), Murray (Cindy), granddaughters, Ariana and Danika, daughter Joan, his twin sister Fran, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son Gerald.
The family is pleased to announce that his legacy will also live on through the Sholinder Family Endowment that is being set up through the Shuswap Community Foundation with an annual bursary to be given in his name. The family would also like to thank Dr. Hepburn as well as the truly wonderful nurses and staff of the Shuswap Lake General Hospital.