WWII Veteran
Alex passed away peacefully in his 96th year having been cared for since November 15, 2019 in Long Term Care at the Perley & Rideau Veterans Health Centre and was glad to see his wife join him January 21, 2020 in LTC knowing she would be cared for.
Predeceased by his parents William and Devina, and siblings Anne, Margaret, George, John, Murray, David, Jean, Jim, and daughter-in-law Renée.
Alex is survived by his cherished wife Edith (Betty) in their 70th year of marriage, devoted father to David and Debbie (Todd), grandfather to Danny (Crystal), Alexandra, Briena (Jessica), and Brooke, great-grandfather to Dakota, Logan, and Peyton, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Alex grew up in Maple Ridge, B.C. after high school graduation he joined the army in 1943 and served with the Canadian Grenadier Guards 4th Armoured Division landing 10 days after June 7th invasion (Juno Beach) in Caen France, on to Belgium, Southern Holland, Germany to Rhine River, and Northwest to free the rest of Holland. His 76mm Sherman tank met another tank with a much larger gun. His tank got blown apart and the 4 survived, “My personal property, pictures and my uniform were destroyed”, first Dakota plane ride in stretcher to hospital after 2 1/2 weeks recovery and the war was over. So thankful. 2 more weeks of recovery Alex volunteered to go to the Far East (war still on in Japan), this war ended by the time he reached Vancouver. Discharged from the Army and then reenlisted with the Air Force.
He met Betty while they were both working at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., married in 1950, 2 children, Ottawa, Goose Bay, Ottawa, Zweibrucken, St. Hubert, Chilliwack-retiring at the rank of Captain, Ottawa, Comox, Penticton, then relocated to Ottawa March 1, 2018.
You will be missed, love from all of us.
Special thanks to all the staff at the PRVHC, Assisted Living and LTC especially those led by Dr. Benoît Robert and my fathers Spies.
Burial to be held at a later date at Beechwood Cemetery in The National Military Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre Foundation.