Obituary of Herb Spear

February 15, 1924 – Calgary, Alberta

March 2, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Herbert Henry Spear passed away at Colonel Belcher on Saturday, March 2, 2024, about two weeks after his 100th birthday, and what a century it was.

Herb was born in Calgary to Peter and Florence Spear and attended Sunnyside Elementary and Crescent Heights High School. He played football and cricket and was an avid skier in his early years. He was in the insurance business for a while, but ultimately his life was all about aviation. He whetted his appetite for flying by hanging out with his father at Calgary’s first public airport, which was in the Renfrew district. With nothing but the great blue skies in his eyes, he left university to join the Air Force and received his wings in 1944. He flew Mustangs with the 403 Squadron in Calgary and remained active in the military reserve for over 50 years.

His life was all about aviation, planes, and flying. He sold planes, flew planes, chartered planes, and worked in flight operations, and health and safety. Herb’s resume covered so many aspects of public and private aviation, it would be impossible to list them all. Imperial Oil, Great Northern Airways, Northward Airlines, Arctic Air, Laronge Aviation, Dome Aviation, Petro-Canada, Ranger Aerial Surveys, and McKenzie Air had him flying DC-3s, Otters, Beavers, and the occasional Hercules throughout Northern and Western Canada. After stints with Continental Airlines, Echo Bay, and Corporate Express, he landed with WestJet as one of the first 200 employees and stayed with them until he finally retired at the age of 90. One of his favourite accomplishments at WestJet was founding the Fear of Flying Program, where he managed to get even the most nervous of passengers airborne.

Outside of the aviation industry, dad never strayed far from flying. He was a member and director of numerous organizations, including the Alberta Aviation Council, the Canadian Business Aircraft Association, the Calgary Flying Club, Calgary Airport Business Association, and was an advisor for the Mount Royal College (now MRU) aviation department. He was active with the Air Cadet League of Canada and added a WestJet Cadet Squadron to encourage young people to take up flying.

Outside of aviation, he was one of the first YYC White Hatters and served on the Calgary Stampede Band Management Committee for 40 years, where he marched in too many parades to count.

Herb is survived by his son Michael (Monica), daughter Judy (Michael), and their children, Sydney, Nicole, and Patrick (Meghan), who is expecting and would have been his first great-grandchild. He is also survived by his brother Peter (Barbara), and will be fondly remembered by his best friend, Rene Dussome.

He was predeceased by his wife Mary in 2010, his parents, and by his younger sisters, Carolyn Brooks and Donna Spear.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Herb’s two charities of choice; STARS Air Ambulance, 1441 Aviation Park N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 8M7, Tel; 403-295-181; www.stars.ca, or to the Salvation Army, 1731 29th Street SW Calgary, AB, T3C 1M6, online at www.salvationarmy.ca, or by phone 403-410-1112.

We would like to thank all the staff and Vets’ Angels volunteers at Colonel Belcher for their support over the last few years. A big thank you to the WestJet staff who made his 100th birthday special and saw to it that he received more than 100 cards for his 100th birthday.

At the family’s request, there will be no service held.

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

In living memory of Herbert Spear, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.