Obituary of Harvey Charles Eagles
EAGLES, Harvey Charles
Our father Harvey passed away peacefully at Valley Manor in Barry’s Bay on July 24, 2022 in his 97th year. Never was there a kinder, gentler man.
Son of the late Emilie (nee Folkard) and Henry Eagles, Harvey was predeceased by his beloved wife Norma in 2002. He was the cherished father of Michele Skrzypinski, David Eagles (Shawn), Lynn Esau (late Jeff) and Andrew Eagles. He was the much-loved grandfather of Matthew Skrzypinski, Emily Green (Kris), Colin Eagles (Andria), Elspeth Troy (Pat), Kathryn Eagles (Ryan), Kaitlyn Tucker (Matthew), Max Esau (Haley), Gwen Eagles (Chad), Greg Esau (Lydia) and Derek Esau (Amelia). He was the proud great-grandfather of twelve. Harvey was predeceased by his dear siblings June Pye, Alan Eagles and Doreen Morello and will be mourned by many nieces and nephews.
Born in Woodstock, Ontario in 1925, Harvey joined the wartime Canadian army at age 19 as a musician. He met and married Norma in Brockville in 1950, and together they enjoyed Harvey’s exciting military career which spanned decades and many countries, including England, Germany, Egypt and Korea. Starting out as a saxophone and clarinet player, in 1957 Harvey was sent to study at the prestigious Kneller Hall in Whitton, England and eventually became Bandmaster and then Director of Music. During his military years, he was variously attached to the RCR Band, the Royal Canadian Signal Corps Band, the Black Watch Band as Commanding Officer and the Air Transport Command Band, with whom many of his original musical scores were recorded. In 1971 at the rank of Captain, Harvey left the army and studied to become a mortgage appraiser with Canada Permanent Trust in London and Sarnia, Ontario. He and Norma retired to Kingston in 1988 and spent many happy years together travelling, gardening, bowling and playing an active and loving role in their children’s and grandchildren’s lives.
For his family and friends, our father was a model of kind-heartedness, modesty and compassion who was generous with his time and affection and who faced adversity with unshakeable good humour and optimism. Dad loved ice-cream, handcrafted wooden objects, big band music, British comedy and little children. With love and gratitude, we’ll remember him always.
Private service at the James Reid Funeral Home, 1900 John Counter Blvd in Kingston followed by a Celebration of Life dinner.
