TOM ALBERT PREST

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TOM ALBERT PREST Tom Albert Prest, a resident of Devonshire Village in Edmonton, passed away peacefully at the Misericordia Hospital on October 11, 2009 at the age of 95. Tom had moved from Winnipeg, his long time residence, five years earlier. Tom was predeceased by his loving wife Margaret in 2003, his son Robert in 1953, and his three brothers William, James and Robert. He will be sadly missed by his four surviving children Bill (Claire) of Toronto, Doug of Guelph, Larry (Joanne) of Vancouver, Barbara (Arthur) of Edmonton, ten grandchildren, and many relatives throughout Canada. Tom was born in Goderich, ON on December 19, 1913, the eldest of four sons of Thomas Linwood and Helen Irene Prest (nee Shephard). Tom's family moved to Saskatchewan in 1919 and he graduated from Edam High School. Tom's fascination with electronics led to him being licensed as one of Canada's first Amateur Radio operators in 1933. This led to Tom joining the Royal Canadian Air Force in September 1939 as a Wireless Electrical Mechanic. He was quickly transferred to England with No. 110 Squadron (later designated No. 400) and served actively in London and southern England during the Battle of Britain. In 1943 he helped in the formation of No. 433 Squadron (a Halifax Bomber unit) where he assumed the responsibility for all airborne communications. He returned to Canada in 1945 and chose to stay with the Air Force where he served in many communications and radar capacities, including several NORAD radar stations throughout Eastern Canada. After a long and distinguished career Tom was honourably discharged from the Air Force in 1965, and moved with his family to Winnipeg. Tom's second career started that same year when he joined the CBC, where he remained until his retirement in 1978 at the age of 65. Soon after the war Tom met Margaret (Peggy) Parker of Winnipeg and they were married on November 15, 1947. From 1948 to 1960 Tom and Peggy had five children. Tom was a very proud and devoted father, and his children will always remember his interest, help and patience throughout their childhoods. Tom loved the summer cottage he built with his family at Minaki, ON, and Tom and Peggy spent every summer there up until her death in 2003. Tom moved to Edmonton in 2004 to be closer to his daughter Barbara. A service will be held for Tom in the chapel of Devonshire Village, 1718 Rabbit Hill Road, Edmonton on Saturday, October 17 at 2:30 p.m. Presiding over the service will be the Venerable Michael Sung and Reverend Jonathan Connell of Holy Trinity Riverbend Church. The family has plans for a formal interment in Winnipeg at a future date to be announced. The family wishes to thank the staff at the Misericordia Hospital for their kind, compassionate and attentive care shown toward Tom during his stay there. The family would also like to thank the staff and residents of the Devonshire Village for the past five years of involvement in Tom's life.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 17, 2009