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White Rock real-estate pioneer passes

White Rock resident – and real-estate entrepreneur –Henry J. Block passed away on Oct. 7.
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White Rock resident – and real-estate entrepreneur – Henry J. Block passed away at home on Oct. 7.

White Rock resident – and real-estate entrepreneur – Henry J. Block passed away quietly at home on Oct. 7, from complications from Parkinson's disease.

Block, who is survived by his wife, Laura – and many family members and friends in the South Surrey and Langley region – was 89.

A memorial service will be held at Peace Portal Alliance Church, 15128 27B Ave., at 11 a.m. on Oct. 24.

A recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013, he founded Block Bros. Realty with his younger brother Arthur in 1955, at the age of only 29.

Over the next 23 years they grew the company to be one of the largest and most successful real estate firms in Canada.

In the early 1980s he changed direction in life, focusing more on sharing his Christian faith and supporting community projects and organizations dedicated to helping those in need, including Sources Food Bank in South Surrey, Dalit Freedom Network Canada, Union Gospel Mission, the Parkinson Society of BC, Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary Society, A Rocha and Power to Change (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ Canada).

In lieu of flowers, family members suggest donations to any of these organizations.

Born in Borden, Saskatchewan, but raised in Yarrow, B.C. from the age of 10, Block showed his entrepreneurial talents early, making money selling pigeons and rabbits when he was only 13 and starting his own cartage company when he was 17.

By the time he was 19, Block was already selling real estate and he became the manager of an American Motors car lot while he was only 23.