Shanks, Noel Charles

Jul 19, 2017

A citizen of the world, but a son of Sharbot Lake, Noel died May 6 in Burlington, Ont., and will be interred Aug. 5 at Oconto Cemetery.

Noel was born Christmas Day 1922 to Arthur and Annie Shanks.  An RCAF veteran of the Second World War, Noel flew 29 missions as a rear gunner in an RAF Lancaster bomber, including over Normandy on D-Day. He met King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and the then Princess Elizabeth. Upon his return to Canada, nNoel met and married the love of his life, Eileen (née McCord), with whom he worked for many years at Air Canada, with postings in Montreal, Florida and Trinidad. Always curious, Noel delighted his many nieces and nephews with tales of growing up at the Lake, fishing, sailing, racing ice boats and even the time he fell through the ice. Noel adored young people, who shared his wide-eyed enthusiasm for the world. He is survived by his sisters Rose Switzer (Kingston) and Adah Crawford (Vancouver) and 16 nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by Eileen, to whom he was married for 60 years, his brothers John, Howard and Robert, and his sister Lois Boles.

A graveside service will be held at Oconto Cemetery at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow at the Sharbot Lake community centre. A generous, caring and kind man, Noel is missed by all who knew and loved him. Donations in Noel’s memory may be made to the the charity of your choice.