With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Theodore (Ted) Stokes on May 18, 2024 in North Vancouver, BC. Ted was born February 11, 1938 to Myrtle and Frederick Stokes in Humboldt, Sask, the second of 6 children. Ted grew up in southern Saskatchewan and was educated by his father in a one-room school-house, literally living a real life version of Little House on the Prairie. He began sweeping floors at Bowman Brothers Automotive at the age of 16 but quickly rose to positions of sales and management within the company. Ted married Dorothy (Dolly) Lowes on November 11, 1963 and from 1964 - 1969 they welcomed four children. At age 30 Ted became the youngest general manager in the history of the company (now Acklands Ltd.) with responsibilities for Saskatchewan and the family settled in Saskatoon.
Ted was very community minded and was active in the Kiwanis Club and various other community and charitable organizations, with the Children's Wish Foundation holding a special place in his heart. If you heard the sound of someone working on their house in the neighbourhood, you could guarantee that Ted would show up with some tools to offer his assistance. He was a devoted father who was always there to support his children in their many sports and extracurricular activities, even coaching when nobody else raised their hand. You could always count on Ted to be in the stands cheering on his children and grandchildren at their events in his quiet and dignified way.
Hardworking, humble, generous and kind, wherever Ted went he left a place better for his having been there. In 1994 Ted was asked to lead the BC operations for Acklands so he and Dolly packed up and left the prairies for North Vancouver where he eventually retired in 2003 having worked for the same organization his entire career. He was dubbed the “senator from Saskatchewan” because of his white hair and dignified demeanor. Through multiple mergers and acquisitions, and 49 years of incredibly hard work, Ted retired as one of the senior architects of Canada's largest Industrial Distributor with Canadian sales in excess of $1B.
Ted held his Acklands family very dear to his heart. If you asked him about his many accomplishments in business, Ted would always deflect and talk about the wonderful people he felt fortunate to have worked with. On his last day at work, after everyone had long gone home, Dolly joined him to pack up his things for a retirement well earned. That evening he discovered a situation in which some cleaning staff, new immigrants to Canada, were being mistreated by the property management firm. The last thing he did before leaving one last time for home, was make sure the situation was resolved. Whether you were the Chairman of the Board, or the person cleaning the bathroom stalls, Ted would always treat you with the same level of respect and dignity.
In retirement he stayed very active volunteering to help new immigrant families get settled in Canada. Though he was directed to never get personally attached, inevitably Dolly found herself preparing meals and welcoming many of these families into their home, forging friendships that remained till his passing. He was also involved in strata leadership, and dedicated much time to the Keep Well organization, of which he was very proud.
A better friend, father, grandfather or husband you would be hard pressed to find. Ted took care of and loved his family well to the end. He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters Ethel Knight and Nancy Ginther. He leaves to mourn his wife Dolly; his children Kim (Tom) Blackaby, Cam Stokes (Christine LaFave), Tracy (Ric) Steele, and Trevor (Pauline)Stokes; his nine grandchildren, Erin (David) Grypma, Matthew (Elly) Blackaby, Conor Blackaby, Sabrina Steele, Theo Stokes, Hazen Stokes and Emerson Stokes, Brandon Stokes and Eva Stokes and one great grandson, Anders Grypma.
A service to celebrateTed’s life will be held on Friday, May 31, 2024 at 2:00 pm at North Shore Alliance Church located at 201 - 23rd Street East, North Vancouver.
In lieu of flowers, the Stokes family kindly requests donations be made to the Keep Well Society at keepwellsociety.ca/donate/
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