Lily Bales Obituary
A life lived well, our mum Lily Bales (nee Wallace) passed away on October 1, 2025 at her residence in Amica Jubilee House in Victoria. Lily was born to Charles and Mary Wallace (Bicheno) on May 12, 1924, at Queen Charlottes Hospital in London, England. She is predeceased by her parents and brothers Ben and Stan Wallace, husband Mel and grandson Riley Burnett. Lily is survived by daughter Marilyn Little (Warren) and son Don (Liz), 5 grandchildren, Craig Burnett, Carly Webb, Colin Bales, Jeni Norris, and Daniel Bales and 9 Great grandchildren.
Mum grew up in the great depression. Although a shy girl, during WW2, she joined up at 17 and was a gunner in a Royal Artillery, Heavy Anti-Aircraft battery and pioneered the operation of radar.
During the war, she met and married Mel Bales, of the Canadian Air Force assigned to Coastal Command. After the war, she joined Mel in Winnipeg Manitoba, crossing the Atlantic and then making the arduous journey across Canada by train from Halifax. She lived in Winnipeg until retiring to Vancouver Island in 1986.
She loved to create delicious dinners and fancy cakes, to decorate, to sew and knit, and was great friend to all who knew her. Even at 101, she loved to laugh and was quick witted and always stylish. Most important to her was family.
Thank you to the care givers at Amica Jubilee House for your care and compassion for Lily in her final days.
We love you so much mum and we will miss you. Till we meet again.
Published by The Times Colonist from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13, 2025.