It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Dad, Horace Charles Lee on March 11, 2016. He was born January 9, 1922 in Duncan, BC and called Cowichan Valley home for the majority of his 94 years. Along with his brother, Eddie, Horace attended Duncan Elementary School, which was built by their father, Edward Lee, in 1913. Dad attended Cowichan High School and soon after enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he trained as a Pilot in Claresholm, AB. After sustaining an inflight injury, he served the remainder of the War in Nova Scotia. Dad returned home in 1945 and worked alongside his father in the construction industry. He met and then married our Mom, Frances, in 1948. Dad had a variety of jobs over the years: Construction, Longshoreman, Motel Owner, and his final job alongside Mom, as the managers of the Townhouse Apartments on Jubilee Street. Mom passed away in 2002 and Dad remained living in the same apartment until his passing.
During his younger years, Dad was an accomplished dart player, an avid stamp collector, a member of the Duncan Zenith Gyro Club and recently received his 70-year membership pin from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #53. Dad and Eddie had a wonderful friendship and could often be seen driving around the Valley, stopping for dinner at the Rock Cod in Cowichan Bay, Salty’s, or Kim Wah in Duncan.
Dad was predeceased by his Father, Edward (Ted) Lee in 1966, Mother, Violet (Philliston) Lee in 1974; Wife, Francis Byrne Dunkley (Lee) in 2002 and Brother, Edward Lee in 2015. He will be missed but lovingly remembered by his Daughters: Janet Lee of Medicine Hat and Joy (Larry) MacKay of Arizona. He will fondly be remembered by his four grandchildren: Michael (Rani) Verbonac of Edmonton, AB, Jennifer (Mark) Hallam of Okotoks, AB, Michael MacKay of Arizona, Kimberly (Colin) Aldridge of Arizona and his nine great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Shirley and Al Black for their love and kindness to Dad over the years. He will be greatly missed by Barbara Ketch, Janet’s lifelong friend, who took Dad shopping to his favourite shops every week: The Chemainus Bakery on Oak Street for his goodies and Russell Farm Market for his healthy food! Our thanks and gratitude goes to Dr. M. Ibrahim and the wonderful staff of the third floor in CDH, who took care of Dad with love and kindness for the final months of his life.
As per Dad’s wishes, there will be no formal service. The family will have a memorial service at a later date. Donations in memory of our Dad can be made to the RCL Poppy Fund, Branch 53. PO Box 20081, Duncan, BC, V9L 5H1.