RONALD DURHAM VINNELL (RON)

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RONALD DURHAM VINNELL
August 14, 1937 - January 12, 2023

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Ronald Durham Vinnell on January 12, 2023 in Victoria, BC after a two year decline from mesothelioma.
He leaves behind his loving wife Helen Ann (nee Furgal), his daughter Desiree Ann Henderson (Dave) and his sister Allison Lafortune (Michael). He was predeceased by his son Ronald Alfred Vinnell, father Alfred Sidney Vinnell, mother Ruth Gwendoline Vinnell (nee Durham) and sister Roberta Louise Vinnell.
Ron was born August 14, 1937 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
At a young age, he demonstrated hard-working entrepreneurial skills, pulling his wagon through the neighbourhood to deliver the Star Weekly, collecting and reselling books and magazines and meeting passengers at the Grand Beach train station to transport luggage to their cottages. By the time he graduated high school, Ron had earned enough money to buy his own car.
Ron's technical vocational high school training prepared him for a successful working career. As a young man, he joined the Air Force Reserves 402 Squadron becoming an Air Craftsman First Class Electrical Technician. He worked evenings doing electrical work on billboards for Remis Signs. He then followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather adding to a proud Vinnell tradition with the Manitoba Telephone System (now Bell MTS) that spans as far back as 1910. Ron started his telephone career as a labourer digging trenches along the Winnipeg streets to lay new cables. By 1956, Ron became an Apprentice - Central Officeman working at the Fort Rouge exchange. He moved through the ranks of Journeyman, Subforeman, Foreman, Project Manager and Manager. He worked at most of the telephone exchanges in Winnipeg at one time or another. He closed out his 38 year career transitioning from Project Manager at Central Office Repair and Maintenance Inventory Control at 1300 Ellice Avenue to Manager of Vernon Central office.
You could say Ron retired with a bang as it occurred at the time of the 'great gas explosion of 1992' that involved a bakery adjacent to the Vernon Central office. It's said that Ron took the initiative to go to the office to check on the building and it's equipment soon after the blast to ensure the neighbourhood phone lines would remain operational.
He met the love of his life, Helen on a blind date and was instantly captivated by the lovely miss. In 1957, he married that young miss and they would share the next 65 years building a life and family together raising two children - daughter Desiree Ann and son Ronald Alfred. Ron was a dedicated provider and caregiver for his family. He bought a small cottage at Grand Marais on the shore of Lake Winnipeg where many happy family vacations were spent.
Ron also imparted a sense of adventure bundling up the family to tour various parts of Canada and the USA pulling a tent trailer behind the 1967 Plymouth Fury.
As a result, Ron taught his children the joys of exploring and travelling to new destinations, experiencing the great outdoors through mountain hikes and camping.
After retirement and with the children now grown, Ron and Helen moved to the West Coast and eventually settled in Saanicthon near Victoria on Vancouver Island.
Together the two would spend their days visiting family or attending live theatre. They enjoyed winter travels to warm destinations and developed a love for cruise ship vacations. They pursued their passion for geneaology travelling across Canada and spending hours at the National Archives in Ottawa conducting their research.
Ron and Helen shared a love for gardening. Ron could often be found raking the backyard of the 'offending' cones shed from the huge Diadora tree or sawing 'just one more branch' while Mom pruned a rose bush or tended the vegetable patch. Many an afternoon was spent on the patio surrounded by the blooms and watching the birds at the feeders.
Ron happily shared his knowledge of electrical, automotive, carpentry and other building skills with family, friends and neighbours, always ready to tackle a project or lend a helping hand, not to mention a garage full of tools for any job.
With loving support from his wife and daughter, Ron was able to stay at home until the end. The family thanks Caitlyn and Gina at Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba, Karen and her fellow Home Care Community nursing team of Island Health and the Palliative Response team who demonstrated such compassion and care during Ron's declining health.
Ron will be interred at a private family gathering in Winnipeg at a later date.

He was a loving husband, father and brother and we will miss him greatly.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 21, 2023