Friends and family are mourning the loss of Charles (Charlie) Stephens, one of the oldest members of Sechelt Branch No. 140 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Stephens passed away in Totem Lodge on Sunday, April 1. He was 99 years old.
Stephens was born in Toronto and moved to Burnaby with his family at the age of two.
As a young man he was a merchant seaman on tankers plying the West Coast. In 1940 he enlisted in the Canadian Army with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and became a vehicle inspector. He was discharged as a sergeant in 1946.
He first joined the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 179 in West Vancouver in 1960 and held the position of second vice president. He transferred to Sechelt Branch 140 in 1986. He was a Legion member for 52 years.
He holds the past officers medal with second vice president's bar. In 1979 he was awarded the Legion's Certificate of Merit. He also had the Legion Diamond Jubilee medal. In 1987 he was awarded Legion life membership and in 2000 he received the Legion's 75th anniversary pin. In 2010 he was then awarded the meritorious service medal for his dedication to the Legion's causes.
Over the past few years he has been the chair of the sick and visiting committee and in that capacity he brought a ray of sunshine and a song to both veterans and others who were in St. Mary's Hospital.
He loved to sing and if he wasn't singing, he was whistling. He knew all the words to the oldies and would sing to anyone who would listen. At Totem Lodge, he would serenade the nurses and looked forward to singing with Reg Dickson when he came in.
Flowers are gratefully declined. If you so desire, send a donation in Stephens' name to St. Mary's Hospital Expansion, to Totem Lodge or to Sechelt Branch 140 Legion, which would be greatly appreciated.
A memorial service will held at the Sechelt Legion Hall on Sunday, April 15, at 1 p.m.
- Submitted
