STOKES, J. Frank
1918 – 2009
Stokes, Joseph Frank passed away October 13, 2009 at Lethbridge, Alberta at the age of 91 years.
Frank was born on September 14, 1918 on the farm in the Armada District that his dad homesteaded in 1909 to Charlie and Virtue Stokes. He attended school at Brunetta and played all sports. Frank especially loved to box and ride horses. He married Lillian “Sis” Chambers on July 11, 1939. Frank often said that he didn’t have to pretend that his old Harley motorcycle or car were out of gas because they were usually broken down anyway. Things were hard for their first years of marriage but they always got by with Frank working for farmers in the Carseland area and many other jobs. They tried farming with horses for one year, found things too tough, so they moved to Calgary in 1940 where Frank worked with Harry Forester in a garage plus other jobs. Frank joined the army in 1942, was stationed at Camrose, the West coast, New Brunswick and Niagara Falls. He was sent overseas and trained for gorilla troops in England, then onto Belgium, France, Holland and Germany. Frank returned home in 1946 to the Armada district and did some trucking for a year. He then bought the Al Graham farm and slowly expanded his farm. In 1980 they retired and moved to Vulcan, buying a home on the golf course.
Frank became a very avid golfer. He and Sis traveled a lot spending many winters in the USA, also to England, Holland and Belgium. He loved telling stories of all the things they did over his lifetime. In April 2009 they moved to Lethbridge to the Sunrise Village, where they remained until his passing.
Frank is survived by his loving wife of 70 years Lillian “Sis”, daughter Marvina (Alvin) Hendricks, son Richard (Sheila), seven grandchildren Todd (Kelly) Hendricks, Mona (Lou) Breland, Dee (Kelly) Murray, Laine (Angela) Hendricks, Kim Hofmann, Carrie Stokes, Kody (Lara) Stokes, eighteen great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter, brother Leonard (Mary), two sisters Ivy Gilday, Betty “Tip” Smith, twelve brothers and sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.
Frank is predeceased by his parents, step mother May, three brothers, four brothers-in-law, three sisters-in-law, mother and father-in-law Stancil and Annie Chambers and three nephews.
Funeral service was held Monday, October 19, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at Vulcan United Church, with Sue MacDonald D.M. officiating.
Honorary bearers were family and friends.
Casket bearers were Todd Hendricks, Mona Breland, Kelly Murray, Dee Murray, Lane Hendricks, Kim Hofmann, Carrie Stokes and Kody Stokes.
Interment Vulcan Cemetery
In lieu of flowers, tributes in Frank’s memory can be made to the Vulcan Community Health Centre Ladies Auxiliary, Box 299, Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.