ORVAL HENRY VOAKES

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ORVAL HENRY VOAKES

On October 12, 2020, Orval Voakes peacefully passed after a brief illness.
He is survived by his children, Grant (Cindy) and Leanne (Kent Gowler); and grandchildren, Quinton and Madelyn.
Born November 11, 1930 in Windsor, Ontario, Orval grew up the youngest of four brothers and a sister. He attended and graduated from Essex District High School, playing in the Essex Kingsville Band. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1952 to pursue a career in music. Initially a member of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery Band (later Training Command and Air Command Bands), he was initially posted to Halifax, and later to Winnipeg. It was here that he met the love of his life, Merl, and they were married in 1957. He travelled extensively with the Canadian Forces across Canada, the U.S., and Europe. His family remained the most important thing in his life, and he treasured family vacations and time spent with them. After retiring from the Forces in 1982, he started working as coordinator of mail services at the University of Winnipeg, finally retiring in 2016.
He was an active member of the Masons, Northern Lights Lodge, and with Patricia Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. A devout Christian, he also served as a Deacon in Broadway First-Baptist Church, and assisted on numerous committees and Boards.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, November 20, 2021 at Broadway-First Baptist Church, 790 Honeyman Avenue at 11:00 a.m. Proof of vaccination will be required, and the family requests that you RSVP them if planning on attending.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the University of Winnipeg Scholarship Foundation, CancerCare Manitoba, or Broadway-First Baptist Church.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 13, 2021