Passed away peacefully at home December 11, 2010. Val was predeceased by his wife and soul mate Doreen last December. He will be greatly missed by his son, David (Sheila) and the boys: Jackson, Tony and Alex, his daughter, Mary Anne (Sarah and Simon), and other family members. Val was born February 1921 in London, England. At 19 he joined the British Army, and after basic training and Officer Cadet School he was sent out to India. Discharged as Captain in 1947, he returned to England. Later that year he headed out to Kenya in search of a warmer climate. Val loved the heat. He worked as an Electrical Contractor and then as Electrical Supervisor for the East African Railways. He met and married Doreen in Nairobi in 1955. In 1956, after the Mau Mau rebellion and a visit with her sister in Victoria, they decided to stay in Canada. It was a decision they never regretted. Val worked as an electrician in the Victoria Shipyards for a couple of years and then became an Electrical Inspector for the BC Gov’t. He served as District Electrical Inspector for Port Alberni and then Parksville until 1975 when he was promoted to Regional Supervisor until retirement in 1986. In 1964, after several years in Port Alberni Val and Doreen moved to Qualicum Beach, where they raised their children, enjoyed their dogs and lived happily. Val loved to walk the dogs with the ‘dog clatch’ at the baseball park. He was an avid ‘Ham’, amateur radio club: VE7VL and enjoyed mastering his computer. Val will be missed by all who knew him. Thank you to all the caregivers and nurses who took such gentle care of Dad in his last weeks. And special thank you to Frank and Lynsey for all they have done for Mom, Dad and us over the past several years, no words can say how much we appreciate all your love and support.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Oceanside Hospice Society, 210 Crescent Rd. W. Qualicum Beach, BC, V9K 1J9.
YATES FUNERAL SERVICE & CREMATORIUM (250-248-5859) in care of arrangements.