JARVIS, Earl Edward - (July 26, 1938 – January 26, 2021)
An inveterate traveller, proud husband, father, grandfather and a great friend, Earl died in his sleep of COVID-19.
Predeceased by his wife, Mabel Jarvis (Gilliland) (2008), Earl was born in Toronto to Albert and Grace Jarvis (Shipley). He grew up in Winnipeg and Toronto with his younger sister Doreen Duncanson.
When in his early twenties, Earl travelled to the (then) USSR for several weeks and saw Gary Powers’ U2 plane in Gorky Park. Upon his return to Canada, he was interviewed by the RCMP about his trip, as very few tourists went to the USSR in the early sixties.
He met Mabel, the love of his life, through the Young Peoples group at Century United Church in New Toronto. They got married in 1965, and thereafter moved to Montreal where their children were born. They moved back to Ontario in 1973.
Earl worked for Bell Canada his whole career. His most interesting posting was to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 1980 for 2 years (an intrepid undertaking for a family with 3 pre-teenage children). He and Mabel took advantage of being overseas and the whole family travelled extensively throughout Asia, Africa and Australia. Upon returning to Canada, they embarked on an epic cross-Canada road trip, as they had seen much of the world. Ultimately, Earl travelled so much that he was able to boast that he had visited all 10 Provinces and all 50 US States.
Earl retired early at 51 and was proud that he got a pension from Bell longer than he got a paycheque! He and Mabel moved to Guelph where Earl spent his time doing crosswords, golfing, gardening, and making wine.
A bon vivant, Earl never stopped smiling, even as Alzheimer’s took his mind. Many thanks to the staff of Bough Beeches Place, especially those on the Memory Unit, who worked tirelessly over the last 10 months to keep the residents safe from COVID.
Proudest of his children, Colin (Tricia Snell), Sheri (Kevin Brown) and Leigh (Jason Balgopal), and his grandchildren, Bridgette and Charlotte Jarvis, and William Brown, he enjoyed the company of good friends throughout his life, usually with a beer or glass of wine in hand.
Given the circumstances and in accordance with Earl’s wishes, there will be a private family service on Saturday afternoon, January 30, at Ridley Funeral Home, Toronto. We encourage all his many friends and family to raise a glass that afternoon and join us in spirit to remember him.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Alzheimer Society or a charity of your choice.
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