Charles "Art" Arthur Frey

He is survived by his loving family, wife Bette, sons Douglas, David and daughter Roberta Chale; three grandchildren Matthew Frey, Drew and Marshall Chale; three sisters Helen (Tom) Richards in Edmonton, Dorothy (Ron) McDonald in Edmonton, Mary (Colin) Fusedale of Camrose and one brother Ed (Gladys) of Calgary also several nieces and nephews.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta he first worked for the Edmonton Bulletin newspaper as a carrier boy then as City wholesaler until 1942 when he joined the Navy serving aboard the destroyer Algonquin which was attached to the British Home Fleet. His travels included three trips to Murmansk in Northern Russia escorting convoys of ships and was involved in numerous raids on the Battle Ship Tirpitz which took him across the Arctic Circle many times. On one of these raids the HMS Aircraft carrier “Nabob” was torpedoed so his ship assisted in escorting it safely back to harbor. During the invasion of Normandy the Algonquin was one of the many ships sent to bombard the coast of France. His ship was given credit for sinking seven enemy ships on one of the many raids he was on. After the war was concluded in Europe, Art again applied for service in the Pacific theatre of war against Japan. On his way there, his ship the Algonquin was contacted at Alexandria, Egypt and told to return to Canada because Japan had surrendered and the war was over.

He again returned to work at the Edmonton Bulletin and in 1946 married Elizabeth (Bette) Watt. In 1947 he became a member of the Department of Labour for the Alberta Government in 1955 he was transferred to Medicine Hat as district inspector and conciliation officer and moved there with his family. In 1964 he became a Life Member of the Civil Service of Alberta. In 1964 he then accepted a position with the Federal Government in Winnipeg in the Department of Labour as Industrial Relations and Conciliation officer and lived there until his retirement in 1985.

When he and his son Douglas and wife moved to Kelowna. He transferred his membership in the Shrine and Lions clubs and became in involved with the Westbank Lions and was given a Life membership on the International Lions Association. He was instrumental in having the Lions Senior Housing built in Westbank. In 1992 he became President of the Kelowna Shrine Clubs and helped establish the first Shrine Children’s Soccer Teams in Kelowna. He retained his membership in the Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge in Winnipeg and became a member of St. George’s Masonic Lodge in Kelowna. He also became a member of the Gizah Shriners of BC., The Royal Canadian Naval Association, The Royal Canadian Legion in Westbank and the Federal Superannuants.

A memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 22nd at First Memorial Funeral Services, 1211 Sutherland Ave. In lieu of flowers donations in Art’s memory may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children or your local Lions Club.

The family would like to thank Dr. Hancock and all the doctors and nurses and staff at Kelowna General Hospital. Arrangements in care of First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, BC (250) 762-2299.