Robert Edwin Malton

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert Edwin Malton (Bob), who at 83 years died peacefully on September 22, 2023 in Victoria, British Columbia following a five year struggle with kidney disease.

From an early age, Bob was a talented athlete and avid sportsman; he loved playing hockey, baseball, horseshoes, and bowling and would go on to become the proud coach to many young baseball players whom he sponsored through the “Bob Malton Roofing Shamrocks.” Bob was a devoted tomato gardener, a greenhouse enthusiast, a keen fisherman and duck hunter. Over the years Bob would lovingly recount stories of his many fishing trips with family and friends to Uncle Walther Kretz’s cottage at Bobcaygeon. Possessed of an abiding interest in history and an avid lover of trains and railways, Bob was a true adventurer. In 1981, Bob left Ontario in search of a new life for his family in British Columbia. Above all, he had a faith to move mountains (always with the help of Via Rail).

In BC, Bob worked for many years as a custodian for the Anglican Diocese of Vancouver Island at the Church of St. John the Divine, where he was also the Verger, and also at Christ Church Cathedral. He later worked at St. Patrick’s Parish and the Victoria Catholic School Board. Bob lived out his deep faith in his great compassion for the poor and marginalized and spent many years working to help those in need of a meal or employment. He is remembered as always having a moment to stop and talk and to share a quiet word of encouragement or a laugh.

Bob was predeceased by his parents Arthur and Leonora Malton, siblings James, Reginald Marguerite and Shirley. He leaves behind his sister Arlene Pizzacalla, his brother Richard (Barbara) Malton, and his brother-in-law Paul (Karen) DeLuca. He also leaves behind a vast number of nieces and nephews who always took great delight in announcing that very fact, “Bob’s your uncle!”

Bob was a proud father to his children David, Michael, Susan, and Sara, each of whom held a special place in his heart. He leaves behind eight beloved grandchildren — Taylor, Tommy, Sebastian, Allie, Lucas, Davis, Reggie, and Harry — who were a constant source of love and laughter for him over the years. In them their grandfather’s talents and vital spirit clearly live on.

He departs, above all, from his cherished wife of 63 years, Joanne, whom he met when the two were only 16. Bob’s children especially wish to recognize with gratitude their mother’s tireless, loving devotion to their father, particularly in the final challenging stages of his illness.

The family also wishes to acknowledge the attentive care of the Victoria Royal Jubilee Hospital Renal team and the entire Palliative Care Team of the Victoria Royal Jubilee Hospital, who with such graciousness helped Bob onward to his final place of rest.

An open-hearted man with a huge heart, a renowned handshake, and a beautiful smile, Bob will be forever greatly missed.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield” (Psalm 28:7).

Funeral Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, September 30 at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Victoria, B.C., at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, St. Andrew’s Cathedral Soup Kitchen via www.thesoupkitchen.ca, St. Vincent De Paul Society, or the Society of the Little Flower, Canada.

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