KENNETH ALEXANDER SMITH

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KENNETH ALEXANDER SMITH

We are saddened to announce the passing of Ken at the age 102 years on Monday, March 27, 2023, at his long-term care home, Guildford Seniors Village.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary and special son Laird William; father Edward and mother Margaret; sisters, Eleanor, Irene, Lila, Josephine, Elizabeth, Ada and Kathleen. Ken is survived by his sons, Craig (Elaine), Grant (Lea); grandchildren, Jessika, Chris, Bryan (Angie); great grandchildren, Austin (Marina), Jacob, Alicia and Steven; and many nieces, nephews and their families.

Ken was born in Selkirk, Manitoba and the family later moved to Winnipeg. In 1936 he was a member of the Gordon Bell High School provincial championship football team and in 1937 he began work with the Eaton’s department store.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Ken enlisted in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. On August 19, 1942 the Regiment participated in the Dieppe Raid. Ken was one of the lucky ones to have made it back to England. Beginning in 1944 he fought in the Northwest Europe campaign where he was wounded in action twice and was awarded a Mention in Dispatches. By the end of the war, he had risen to the rank of Major and was second in command of the Regiment. In 2016 the government of France awarded Ken the Legion of Honour in recognition of his involvement in the liberation of that country. He had a lifelong devotion to his Regiment and felt that it had helped turn him from a boy into a man.

After the war Ken returned to employment with Eaton’s. Not long after he became a management trainee and he would go on to have a 48 year and 10-month career with the company. Soon after returning to Eaton’s, Ken met Mary who was working at the cosmetics counter. They married in 1953 and began their life together in Winnipeg where they built a house, began raising a family and spent summers at Grand Beach. Ken was transferred to Edmonton in 1963 then again in 1969 to the west coast where the family settled in Surrey. He worked at the Vancouver and Guildford stores then the Service building in East Vancouver before retiring in 1986.

Ken had a lifelong passion for football and was an avid Canadian Football League fan. When their sons joined North Surrey Minor football in the 1970s Ken and Mary did as well. Ken was an executive with both North Surrey Minor Football and Surrey Rams Junior Football. He then became an executive member of the B.C. Junior Football Conference for many years. He is a Life Member of the Surrey Rams, the B.C. Football Conference, and the Canadian Junior Football League who also honored him with the Ed Henick Meritorious award. He was recognized with B.C. Lions Orange Helmet Football Pioneer and Football B.C. Builder awards.

Ken always found time to give back to his community, no matter where he lived. He was a member of the Masonic Order in both Manitoba and B.C. He was a long-standing member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Whalley Branch and for many years would lay a wreath on Remembrance Day to honour his fallen Dieppe Raid comrades. Ken was a proud member of the Gizeh Shrine Temple where he held the positions of president and past-president of the Pipes N’ Drums unit.

Ken and Mary were a team for 52 years until she passed away in 2005. He was devastated by her loss but treasured her memory and kept busy with visits to his local coffee shop, the minor football clubhouse at Bear Creek Park and brunches at his favourite pub. He enjoyed going to the casino and made regular trips out to Cultus Lake to visit his late brother-in-law, George Grant. He travelled to Junior football playoff games and loved to go to Gizeh Pipes N’ Drums practices. After he gave up his driver’s licence a devoted group of friends drove him to all of his activities.

Ken had a great sense of humour and was always into having fun. He had an amazing memory, was a great story teller and loved sharing jokes. He always kept in touch with his family and friends from all the walks of his life and offered support to those in need. Ken was a true gentleman, a mentor to many. He was a leader and was able to get things done by bringing people together. Ken spent his life giving back and said that this was his way of honouring his fallen war comrades. All who have known him were blessed to have had him here for so long and to be able to have shared in his incredible life journey.

Many thanks to his former family physicians, Dr. Andre Starke and Dr. Suze Donaldson for many years of dedicated and compassionate care and Lancaster Mobility for going above and beyond for all his medical equipment and supply needs. The family are grateful to the residents, volunteers and staff at Guildford Seniors Village for making Ken always feel he was part of a family; to Dr. Darryl Samoil and the second-floor care team, you are angels here on this earth. As Dad would always say, Bless You.

Ken gave generously to many different charities over the years. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his name to one of your favourite charities.

No service by request. Ken will be interred next to his beloved Mary in a private ceremony. A Celebration of Life is to be held at a later date.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 22, 2023