WARK, Allan Chesley

Allan passed away peacefully on January 16, 2016 at the Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building in Halifax after a brief illness. He was born in Truro on October 20, 1920 to Trueman and Elizabeth (Morgan) Wark. As a teenager growing up in Truro, Allan started working for Dominion delivering groceries by bicycle, which he had to supply. Anxious to gain a trade, the store butchers recognized his initiative and kindly trained Allan during his off-hours. He then worked at Eastern Hat & Cap until enlisting with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in 1941. Allan was first stationed in Debert and then went overseas, serving in England and Europe until being discharged in 1946. Worried about finding work after the war, he was successful in joining Barkers Grocery Store as the Meat Manager just five days after returning home to Truro. A short time later, Barkers was bought out by Sobeys. Allan worked with Sobeys for 40 years retiring in 1986 and was one of the original members of the Sobeys Quarter Century Club. He spent the majority of his career with Sobeys managing their Truro stores, first the store at Inglis & Esplanade, and later the Fundy Trail Mall store; between these he spent time managing the Dartmouth Woodside store and the Halifax Gottingen Street store. He was dedicated and hardworking, always the first to arrive at work and the last to leave. In his leisure time, he enjoyed gardening (especially his prized begonias); building furniture and completing woodworking projects in his workshop; always winning at card games and pool; experimenting with cooking new recipes; and armchair coaching his beloved Boston Red Sox. Allan was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Phyllis (Roode) Wark. They met at a card party in 1946 soon after his return from overseas. They married in 1948 and enjoyed a close partnership until she passed away in 2005. Allan and Phyllis took great pride in their home in Truro and loved entertaining and, most importantly, feeding family and friends. Following retirement, they enjoyed memorable trips to the British Isles, Europe, California and Alaska. As well, they endeavoured to try just about every dining establishment in the Maritimes applying their own restaurant rating system along the way, especially for seafood chowder. Allan is survived by son Rod Wark (Lynn Thornton), daughter Susan Radford (Wayne Girvan), brother-in-law Stuart Cochrane, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by older sister Marguerite Cochrane, brother, Clarence Wark (Dorothy), sister Daisy Salter (Howard) and youngest brother Fred Wark (Chris). The family wants to express their heartfelt appreciation to the Camp Hill staff and volunteers on Jubilee 6 West for the outstanding care and compassion provided to Allan over the past two years. Sincere thanks also goes out to the Berkeley in Bedford for the wonderful support given to Allan when he resided there for eight years. There will be no service, a reception to honour Allan’s life will take place on Friday, January 22nd from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM at the Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow Street, Truro. In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest a donation in honour of Allan be made to a charity important to you.