JOSEPH VINCENT OLDALE DOWNES

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JOSEPH VINCENT OLDALE DOWNES February 17, 1928 - February 19, 2011 Vince peacefully passed away on February 19, 2011 in Nanaimo, BC. Born in Winnipeg, MB, he attended Britannia School in St. James, MB. He worked at the Assiniboine Fur farm in Charleswood, MB as resident manager until a downturn in business. Vince hopped the rails and rode the boxcars to Vancouver looking for work. He signed on as an Able Seaman and shipped out, travelling the world and living an adventurous life. After a time he signed on with the Canadian Coast Guard as a chief engineer and served on the cutters, Ready, Rider and Racer. He received accommodation for calling man overboard , that night 13 people were retrieved alive from the sea while their boat exploded and sank. Vince met Kathy Westover and they retired to Cassidy, BC. He indulged in his love of knowledge, learning everything about nature and many other topics, and he became a master gardener. Vince is survived by his brother Jack (Denny) Downes, sister June Roy and step-daughters Marion and Gail.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 12, 2011