Valentine Edwin Singer
Passed on: August 25th, 2008
Feb. 15, 1916-Aug. 25, 2008 Sydney Mines On Aug. 25, 2008, an honourable and loving gentleman we knew as father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away at the Northside General Hospital. Born in Poole, Dorset, England, Ted was the only son of the late Edwin Joseph and Rose Alice (White) Singer. He was a member of Trinity Anglican Church, Sydney Mines. Ted was educated in Courthill Grammar School, where he became captain and was referred to as ‘The Math Whiz Kid,’ graduating with honours in calculus at the age of 14. Gifted with a good voice, he became head choir boy at Saint Osmond’s Cathedral, Bournemouth, and sang solo at Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury. He graduated from Bournemouth Municipal College with his degree in accounting and was employed by Bowmaker Investments, where he became head accountant at the age of 23, leaving in September 1939 to enlist in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves, and participated in the African Campaign of the Second World War. In 1945, while posted to H.M.S. Seaborne in Halifax, he met and married Mora Briers of Sydney Mines; his loving wife of 60 years. They took up residence in Poole, England, where Ted resumed his position as head accountant with Sydenham Printers, a subsidiary company of Bowmaker. Immigrating to Canada in 1955, he was employed as an accountant at Canada Packers, Sydney, until his retirement in 1981. During his retirement years, he served as an auditor for the Harbourview Ladies Auxiliary accounts and served as church secretary for his church, Trinity Anglican. Ted was an ardent sportsman, playing soccer for the Royal Navy and English Soccer League of Bournemouth. He was also accomplished in diving, tennis and cricket. Ted is survived by daughters, Lynda, Halifax, and Meryl (Hector) MacKenzie, Sydney; loving granddaughters, Sarah, Megan and Heather; great-grandchildren, Taylor and Evann and nephews and niece, Ian, Chris and Penny. Besides his wife, Mora, he was predeceased by his sisters, Lillian, Phyllis, Violet and Sylvia. There will be no visitation by request. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, at 2 p.m., in Trinity Anglican Church, Queen Street, Sydney Mines, with the Rev. Peter Rafuse officiating. Interment will be in the Anglican Cemetery, Sydney Mines. Donations in Ted’s memory may be made to Trinity Anglican Building Fund, World Vision, or to a charity of choice. Online condolences may be sent to the family at jmjobesfuneralhome@ns.aliantzinc.ca.
