Valley, NS
September 27, 2024
Philip "Phil" Lake – 85, Valley. It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of Philip Lake on Friday, September 27, 2024 at Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Truro.
Phil was born in Fortune, NL in 1938, has lived in Valley, Colchester County for the past four years but spent most of his years in Annapolis County. He graduated from Memorial University in St John’s where he met the lovely Ruth Brown.
They married a couple of years later and moved to Halifax, where Phil was a member of the Royal Canadian Navy. After serving in the Navy, he returned to his career as an educator at Hants West Rural High School (possibly the youngest ever Principal at the age of 22). Phil was Superintendent of Schools in Annapolis County before moving to do that same job in Eastern PEI for another six years. Phil, not quite ready to retire after 36 years, spent one final year working in Brochet, Manitoba.
Phil lived in many places in Nova Scotia including Halifax, Brooklyn, Ellershouse, Hantsport, Bridgetown, Granville Centre and Valley. Throughout his career, he also packed up his family and moved to Maine and later Illinois to continue his studies, ending with a PhD from Illinois State University.
The best of memories came from the many years at Anapolac Acres on the Annapolis River in Granville Centre. Throughout his children’s high school and university years, Anapolac provided so much fun and so many stories for the loads of friends the kids dragged home: broken screen doors, stuck vehicles in the mud, lost wedding rings and many fun trips out water skiing in the boat.
Phil was an avid sportsman and fan. As a golfer (with two holes in one over the years), he was a member of Eden Golf Course, and more recently enjoyed the links at Truro and Rocky Point, Tampa. He loved curling and played for 40 years before retiring to spend his winters in a warmer climate where he traded playing for watching. In Tampa he became an avid Lightning and Buccaneers fan.
Phil and Ruth shared a great love of travel, having visited six of the seven continents multiple times, including a 180 day trip around the world, several visits to Australia, and many cruises around the globe. They have lived at their winter home in Imperial Cove, Clearwater, Florida since 1995. When not traveling, Ruth and Phil walked every day to stay in shape for their travels, always aiming for those 10,000 steps.
Phil will best be remembered for his love of life, travel, learning, news, and above all, his family. Phil’s many friends and family will miss his fun tales and positive energy, but those memories will live on for years to come.
Phil leaves behind best friend and wife of 64 years, Ruth, and their three children, Ande Lake (Janice), Dallas, Texas; Janine Boutilier (Eric), Brookside; Jill Lake (Darren Adams), Fall River; six grandchildren, Drew Lake (Amanda and great grandbaby, Lake), Benn Boutilier (Danielle), Abby Barczyk (Conrad), Dani Chenault (Parker), Will Cutler, Kacey Cutler (Devin Keizer). Phil also leaves behind his twin siblings, Clarence, Fortune, Newfoundland and Eleanor, Aldergrove, British Columbia; many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be planned for next July.
If desired, donations may be made to your local food bank in Phil’s honour. Phil’s family encourages you, at the next TGIF or Happy Hour, to raise a glass and toast his wonderful life.
"It's been a good run."
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