Tribute

Most everyone knew him as Tony. He was born in Plaistow, London to parents Harry & Eileen Barnbrook and died from complications of Dementia/Alzheimer’s in Abbotsford, B.C., Canada, at 82.  He was a baby during WWII, when his family was evacuated from London to Newport, S. Wales to a 1 up, 1 down. He was born with heart trouble and by the age of 9 he was scheduled for heart surgery with a 50/50 chance, but he survived and thrived as one of the first children to successfully replace a heart valve in 1947. This early brush with death is what gave him his greatest outlook on life – to have fun and enjoy every day to the fullest. He was a prankster and jokester, born out of loving to make his Mother and his family laugh! He used his bad heart condition to get away with tons of mischief! He had a whole list of funny jokes, but he had the most contagious laugh, and you couldn’t help but laugh with him.

He had a mad passion for watching and playing sports and could manage most any sport he tried. His love of soccer and rugby continued from Wales to Canada when he joined the Ex-Brits and then the Valley Vintage rugby clubs. He loved the team comradery and having a pint or 2 or more with his mates! He loved coaching his son’s teams, watching hockey, playing tennis, but he was obsessed with golf…or was it finding golf balls in the deep bush?… we’re not sure which one he liked more, but he collected enough golf balls to pass down for several generations.

He studied at an all-boys Technical School in Wales and then became an apprentice turner and fitter at the Alcan where his Father also worked. He went on to the Territorial Army in Birmingham, which is where he met his first and second wives. He immigrated by ship and train to Canada in September 1967 with his second wife, Janet and their daughter Jacquie. He loved to brag that Jacquie was a movie star because he was so proud that she had made a life in Hollywood working in the film business. While in Canada he was lucky enough to have another daughter Steffany. She has always been the protector in the family, babysitting the boys when they were small and now caring for seniors in care-homes. He was so proud of her and proud that she brought him his first Grandson, Michael, who sadly, left us on July 15, 2017 but we know they are all together now with Tony’s parents having a big group Welsh cwtch.

His first job in Canada was a prison guard, and then he spent years at the Vancouver Post Office where he met his lovely wife, Beverley and had 3 sons, Brad, Charles and Andrew.  Thank goodness, boys! He could start a sports team or a band! His sons all represent the best parts of him and have grown up to be exceptional human beings. He then went on to work at Telus where he started a soccer team and snuck his three sons on the team as well as his son-in-law Mike and Mike’s brothers to dominate the league!

He was crazy about music and in his early years he loved singing Elvis and Tom Jones songs at the local pubs most likely because it inspired the ladies.  Some of his favorite singers/bands were AC/DC, Tom Jones, Elvis, The Beatles, Queen, Kiss, Mario Lanza and Tina Turner. When the kids were young, he loved playing guitar and singing songs such as Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock and other Elvis classics. When the boys were little, he used to wake them up on Christmas morning to some very loud ZZ Top or Joe Cocker.

Tony was a handsome devil and oh so charming! His greatest love was to Beverley for 43 years. He always said how beautiful she was and how lucky he was to meet her. It took a year before she would even speak to him for a date, so he really did win the lottery with her! They lived a full life from Cloverdale to Abbotsford and raised 3 wonderful, successful sons. Dementia started to take him away about 12 years ago and in the last 5 years he was moved into a nursing home for his own safety. He fought hard with the help of Bev who took care of him every possible day she could.  She loved him for better and for worse until the very last day.  A special thanks to Bev for her dedication and love.

He started with heart trouble but ended with the biggest loving heart for life and for his family. He said he had the greatest family and they made him wealthy, he didn’t need anything else. Except maybe chocolate, a rum and coke and his dogs. We will all miss him so much, but we are so blessed his fun-loving spirit lives on in us.

He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Beverley, and his 8 children – Brad (Kelly), Charles (Regan), Andrew (Kayla), Steffany (Mike), Paul, Jeremy, Lesley and Jacquie. His Grandchildren – Anthony, Tyson, Kaylee, Carter, Chloe, Presley and Alba.  He is survived by his sisters, Brenda, Mary, Molly and his brother, Harry in Wales.

Many thanks to all the nurses and staff at Maplewood House who cared for Tony.

We forever will miss his smile, joking and contagious laugh!

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada at www.support.alzheimer.ca