Ronald Evan Howes (Ron)

June 16, 1932 – November 2, 2023 

Ronald Evan Howes (Ron) passed away in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

Ron was born June 16, 1932 in Penrhiwceiber, South Wales to Wilfred and Mary Jane Howes. In 1938, at the age of 6 years, he moved to Luton, Bedfordshire, England with his mom, stepfather and stepbrother. One of his favourite activities as a youth was playing soccer. During one game, he broke his leg after colliding with his stepbrother, who was playing on a different team. He returned to playing soccer the next year, and this time when they collided, his stepbrother’s leg got broken.

Following school, his trade was listed as a capston operator. At the age of 18 years, he enlisted in the British Army, with his service commencing November 2, 1950. He received his basic training at Aldershot and Yeovil, Somerset, South West England. Upon completion of his training, he joined Number 6 Training Batallion of the Royal Army Service Corps at Houndstone Camp, Yeovil. Following enlistment, he served as a driver. 

After his service with the British army ended, he was employed by Vauxhall Motors, a large automobile manufacturer in England. One day, he had to go to the Accounting Department where he met Cathy Baker, and their courtship followed. Ron and Cathy married on December 12, 1953 in the Parish Church, in the District of Luton, in the County of Bedford, England. They both continued to work at Vauxhall Motors for the next several years.

Ron got his discharge papers from the British Army in October, 1956. The next year, they immigrated to Canada, a choice that they were both proud to share with others. Ron was very pleased when he received his Canadian Citizenship documents. When asked, they both happily stated that they were Canadian Welsh and Canadian English.

Ron and Cath moved into their first home on Kildonan Drive in North Kildonan. Ron’s first job in Canada was a six month term with Bristol Aerospace, followed by employment as a bus driver with Winnipeg Transit for three years. For the next 15 years, he was a driver of a transport truck, moving cargo across eastern Canada. He also was shipping manager for C A DeFehrs, and eventually he returned to the employment of the City of Winnipeg in the Building Services Branch, where he retired as a boiler inspector in 1994.

Ron and Catherine adopted two children into their family, a son Kim in 1963, and a daughter Sandra in 1965. While their young children were still living at home, Ron and Catherine gave their children a wonderful childhood and much love. His son reflected that both parents were always involved in his childhood activities and interests, and how he felt very fortunate to have joined the family. Kim fondly recalls hearing many stories about his dad’s childhood, growing up in England during the war, how lucky he was feeling when he got an apple or candy for a treat, and how he had to learn to adapt growing up in a very tough environment. 

Ron was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed many different sports – rugby, football, soccer, hockey, darts and the Olympic games. He loved playing cards too – his favourite game was cribbage. He also enjoyed curling at the Elmwood Curling Club, and he played in many local bonspiels. 

But his favourite outdoor activity was golf. When the weather permitted, he played golf at many different courses in and around Winnipeg. When his son was about 8 years old, Kim recalled that he caddied many times for his father during the summer months. 

Ron’s last job was with the City of Winnipeg, and he worked the 8 am to 4 pm day shift. During the summer months, somehow he regularly managed to to tee off at his favourite golf course in Warren as early as 1 pm. His son Kim reflected on those years that perhaps his father should have been considered as a professional golfer, being sponsored by the City as he played the first few holes on the course those summer days. 

When recent injuries did not allow Ron to return to the links, he continued to follow the coverage of professional golfers in major tournaments and events around the world. Ron’s love of sports was shared with his son throughout their lives. 

Shortly after arriving in Winnipeg, Ron joined the Sir Sam Steele Branch 117 of the Royal Canadian Legion in 1957. He later transferred to Royal Canadian Legion Branch 215 when it was located on Wallace Avenue. Ron and Catherine were both active members in the East Kildonan Lions Club. They were strong advocates and supporters of the work of the Lions Eye Bank.

Ron was a member of a thirty person group asked to help build the Legion’s new Branch 215 at its existing location on De Vries Avenue (now 215 Maxwell King Drive). Throughout those years as a member, Ron developed a close personal relationship with these other members, a close friendship that continued away from the Legion activities as well. When they sat at their table at the Legion, it was likely the loudest one, always full of laughter. Ron felt that everyone in this group was like a brother to him, and he cherished every moment he had shared with them. As the years passed, so did many of this group. Ron was the last surviving member of this original group.

Ron received his Life Member Recognition from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 215 on June 5, 2016. Earlier this year, he became the only Branch member to have been presented with a 65 Year Pin, an honour that he greatly cherished. 

As a member, Ron made regular visits to his Legion Branch, and he enjoyed participating in many different Legion activities. His favourite past-time was participating in the meat draws on the weekends. At Ron’s Celebration of Life on November 16, 2023, his son Kim purchased tickets for the Saturday afternoon meat draw in his father’s memory, and stood those draw tickets in his dad’s personal drink mug at the table. Ron won more than his fair share of meat draws that Saturday.

Ron was predeceased by his parents Wilfred and Mary Jane, and his first wife Catherine. Following her passing in 1993, Ron married Anne Melven on April 6, 1995. Throughout their married life, Ron and Anne also travelled extensively, on road trips in their own vehicle, on bus tours throughout Canada and the US, on international flights to European, Caribbean and Mexican destinations, and cruises to England and France. Throughout their years together, Ron and Anne enjoyed spending time with many of their family members and friends.

Ron easily formed lifetime friendships with many individuals over the years, with fellow Legion members and other acquaintances. He felt he had a special sisterly connection to Angela and her husband Mike, longtime friends who reside in Mountain Ash, Wales. Ron and Angie would send each other 2 emails every day and they regularly spoke on FaceTime chats. Ron also developed a brotherly connection to Jody (another City employee he met on the job) and his wife Irma, and he told his son Kim that he felt a special father-daughter connection to Fiona and her husband Chuck, both of whom he had met at the Legion. 

Ron’s stories, his smiles and his laughter will be missed by many.

Ron is survived by his second wife Anne, son Kim, daughter Sandra, son-in-law Ernie, and four grandchildren.  

As per his wishes, cremation has taken place. His cremation was entrusted to Voyage Funeral Home.