September 8/1928 - August 4/2017
Ken passed away peacefully at the Nanaimo General Hospital on the evening of August 4/2017. Ken was born in Woolwich, England. Ken first sailed into Canada in 1948 after service in the British Navy. He had accepted an opportunity to join the Bank of Montreal and enjoy life in Montreal. This was followed by a series of branch postings that led him to Kimberley, BC in 1954. There he met Shirley Mathews. They were married in June 1955. Over the decades four children joined their adventure as they moved between Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Then in 1976 the family found a new home in Nanaimo. Ken had been offered the job as the General Manager of the Nanaimo and District Savings Credit Union. After a tremendous career there he retired as the CEO in 1988. Travel and family were their passions. It took them to Australia, New Zealand, England, Mexico, Europe, Egypt and Israel. In1997 and1998 they spent a year in England and Europe and made sure the family joined them. Trips to visit grandchildren in Burnaby, Edmonton, Nelson and Dartmouth were always special for Ken while life in Nanaimo centered on church, community life, cultural events and friends. They both were very involved with various local charities and when Shirley passed away in 2002 Ken continued to volunteer for the Nanaimo Hospice Society, Meals on Wheels and the Loaves and Fishes Foodbank. He had a very busy, satisfying and rewarding life. Ken was absolutely devoted to his late wife Shirley and his four children, Kathleen (Gordon), Brian (Sylvia), Stephen (Debra-Lynn) and David. He will be missed by his seven grandchildren, Neil, Aaron, Wesley, Christopher, Pelham, Mark and Sachi as well as two great grandchildren, Parker and Ryland.
In Lieu of flowers Ken asked us to consider making a donation to one of these three charities.
Primates World Relief and Development Fund
Nanaimo Hospice Society
Loaves and Fishes Foodbank
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Saint Phillips by the Sea in Lantzville BC on Friday October 6/2017 at 2:00 PM.