Obituary of Walter Jones

On Monday, August 24, 2020, Walter Jones passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 92. Walter was born in Toronto, Ontario, and he was the fourth child born to Sarah and Harry Jones. He is predeceased by his wife Lydia and siblings Margaret, Eileen, Bernie, and Betty. He is survived by his half-brother Alvin. Walter spent most of his childhood in Carlton Place, Ontario, which he spoke of with fond memories. After a short time in the military in Ontario, Wally and his brother Bernie, snuck aboard a freight train for a free ride west in 1944. As luck would have it, in Calgary they found a sailboat being shipped by train. They finished their journey west aboard the sailboat (in a freight car) in comfort. Wally worked aboard ships heading up and down the coast of BC. In 1947 he married Lydia Homenchuk, whom he was married to for 61 years. They moved around the Vancouver area and settled in East Vancouver. They had two daughters Donna (Wayneard) Kiselbach and Beverley (Jack) Jakovac. Wally had 6 grandchildren: Ingrid (Doug), Dean (Nicole), Jennifer (Matt), Julie (John), Andrea (Mike), and Melanie (Joshua). He had 10 great-grandchildren: Bradley, Megan, Zachary, Jacob, Jacqueline, Owen, Madeline, Zoe, Kaelyn, and Wyatt. Wally spent most of his career working as a long shoreman on the North Vancouver docks and was a member of the ILWU. After retiring, at the age of 63, he and Lydia moved to Langley to be closer to family. He was known for his love of horse racing, playing cards, gardening, leisure mornings reading the paper and keeping up-to-date on the world around him, but mostly for his love of his family. Wally spent countless hours with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Uncomfortable as it was to get down on the floor, he would do it just to spend time and play with the kids. Not only was he the world’s best grandfather to us, but to countless others he treated as if they were his own. He leaves behind the greatest legacy of love.