Alan Walter Neal

Predeceased by his wife Rita Neal in 2022, he is survived by his three children David (Wendy), Terry (Betty) and Alison (David); sister Iris Durnford; grandchildren Shauna, Drew, Joshua, Kristen, Devon and Connor, and eight great grandchildren.

Born in Port Arthur Ontario in 1927 Alan grew up on a farm and as a young man took a job at Shaw’s Bakery delivering bread by horse (Maude) and wagon. He married Rita on February 14, 1953 and moved to Victoria in 1964 where he worked for Dairyland doing deliveries and eventually working his way up to managing the Victoria Branch where he retired in 1987.

Alan was a Shiner and a very active member of Gizeh Shriners of BC. Being a salesman at heart, he took to organizing and selling tickets on a car the Shriner’s raffled off each year. His bellowing voice yelling “Try your luck, you never know if you might get lucky!” could be heard through malls and in liquor store parking lots all over Victoria. He raised over a million dollars for the Children’s Hospital though his lifetime ticket sales.

Alan loved to drive and he and Rita took many holidays driving all over Canada and the US pulling their 5th wheel trailer. They enjoyed many cruises together and trips to Mexico with the family. He will be most fondly remembered for his jokes. No matter who you were, you’d likely be treated to a joke at some point in a conversation with him (whether you wanted to hear it or not!)

He will be missed at Highgate Lodge and we’d like to thank the staff at Highgate for being such great care givers to him and to Mom. We would also like to thank the absolutely wonderful nurses and doctors at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. We couldn’t ask for better support.

A private family service will be held this Spring. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Shiner’s Hospital for Children.