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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
SMITH, John Frederick - passed away on February 5, 2024, at the age of 80 in Victoria, BC. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Patricia Smith in 2021. He is survived by his two sons, Jeffrey (Susan) and Rick (Connie) as well as two grandchildren, Alexandria and Cole Smith.
John (Dad) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba but he grew up in Calgary, Alberta as an only child. In 1963, at the age of 20, John joined the Canadian Armed Forces and initially served as a navy gunner on a destroyer. After exploring the world for a few years, he switched his specialty to become a photo technician. John started his career in Victoria, BC, then moved to Cold Lake, Alberta, then Lahr, Germany, back to Victoria, BC and ended his military career in Moosejaw Saskatchewan. John served a total of 27 years with the military retiring in 1990. John had the honour of being the Queen's official photographer when she visited Canada on official duties.
Dad married Mom (Patricia or Pat) in Victoria, BC in May of 1965. Both of his sons had a tremendous childhood and were lucky to spend five summer vacations camping around Europe. We remember Dad and Mom driving the streets of Italy with maps spread out on Mom's lap trying to figure out where to go to get to the campsite, with the pair us hooligans in the back seat trying hard to be quiet as the car passed the coliseum.
After retiring from the Armed Forces Dad and Mom settled in Nanaimo, BC, where John owned and operated a local photography studio. Dad and Mom subsequently moved to Victoria and retired from work to live in the same community where the family spent years growing up.
In retirement, John and Pat travelled extensively in Canada and the United States in their motorhome and eventually settling in Yuma, AZ to be close to family. John and Pat would spend the winters in Yuma, playing mini golf, running across the Mexican border for shopping and spending time with their friends and especially Pat's sisters - Judy, Jan and brother-in-law, Ken. Some of John's all time favourite memories were travelling and spending time in Yuma.
Dad was always a "putterer" around the house. He had a huge selection of tools, and it was always organized by his work bench with everything having its place and all the screws in cans marked with his label maker. Dad was a guy who could and would spend hours of his week exploring the aisles of Home Depot and Canadian Tire looking for a new tool or device that could somehow assist in his puttering.
Dad was a loving and supportive father who always made time for his family. Dad was always dependable. He loved to spend time with his boys and was always around to play catch, baseball, or take his sons to sports practices and games. He prioritized his family and they were his pride and joy.
John's wife Pat passed in 2021 and John was never the same; he missed his wife of over 50 years immensely and spoke of her often.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. (The Victoria Times Colonist 15 Feb 2024)
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