In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

 

James Edward Wallace Shears

 

RCN

 

Born: 17 Jul 1932

 

Died: 18 Mar 2021

 

SHEARS, James Edward Wallace - Wallace Shears passed away peacefully with his family by his side on March 18, 2021 at the age of 88. Born to Walter and Rose Shears in Cartyville, Newfoundland, the family moved to Stephenville and then on to Stephenville Crossing. After skipping two grades and passing with honours, he graduated high school and worked at CN Railways. He later joined the Royal Canadian Navy where he served for fifteen years during which time he was stationed at Shearwater as an Aircraft Technician. He spent time on the BONAVENTURE, worked at the cell block in Cornwallis, then returned to Shearwater.

 

Following his service with the RCN Wallace started his own business distributing goods to stores throughout the Atlantic Provinces. He was the first to bring Humpty Dumpty potato chips to the Maritimes. He also had his own vending business. He was offered a job by Folz Vending based in Oceanside, New York managing the business at all the major stores in the Maritimes. Wallace retired in 1997. He had lived in Dartmouth with his family and moved to Fall River in 1982 to be closer to his daughter Angela.

 

After retiring, Wallace and his wife Mildred travelled in their Airstream motorhome to Florida for six winters staying at Silvers Springs park where they met many wonderful friends. They travelled to New York and California where he enjoyed visits with his sisters.

 

Wallace and Mildred were blessed and privileged to take in two of their grandchildren James and Melissa after the passing of their daughter Nadine. They spent four precious years together enjoying camping, travelling and skating. This was such a blessing in our lives.

 

Wallace enjoyed life to the fullest. He had a wonderful sense of humour and I mean wonderful. Everyone loved him for that but especially the children as he was himself a child at heart. He would always have a little something to give to the grandchildren. Some items were very funny that we would all laugh. He loved attending the Stroke Club meetings and he especially enjoyed spending time with his closests friends, the "wing gang" who regularly enjoyed dinner together.

 

Wallace was a very peaceful humourist man. He loved his wife, family and church family to the fullest. His faith was very important to him. He enjoyed music, played guitar, banjo, fiddle and was always singing. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed growing sunflowers and vegetable marrow. His speciality was pancakes making them for the children and grandchildren on a regular basis, although Angela didn't like raisins in her pancakes so he would hide them in the middle. He was always joking and was so young at heart. A devoted husband, father and friend to all who knew him.

 

He will be greatly missed by his wife Mildred of 63 years, son Larry (Patricia), daughter Angela (Gerald), grandchildren Cheryl (Craig), Jerry (Jessesar), James, Melissa and great grandchildren Jaxon, Brooklyn, Ava, Will and Tessa as well as sisters Marjorie (Steve) Brooklyn, NY, Myrna (Holly) Mareno Valley, California, brother Wade (Debbie) and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his father Walter, mother (Rose), sister Corinna and daughter Nadine who passed in 1998 at age 29 which left a void in our lives.

 

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the Infirmary site of the QE11 hospital, Dr. McKeen, Dr. Slaytor, the VON, our ministers Mr. Frank Best and Mr. Shane Kruse. Donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundations.

 

A celebration of Wallace's life will be held at a later date.

 

Ships served in:

HMCS BONAVENTURE

 


 

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