Vincent Valentine Canning, Jr.

Vincent Valentine Canning Jr, 88, of Delray Beach, FL, returned to his heavenly home on February 18, 2018 wearing his Buster Brown watch.  Vince was born Christmas Day in Indianapolis, IN in 1928, to Vincent and Eleanor Skelly Canning Sr.  An Eagle Scout and 1947 Graduate of Rock Hurst High School in Kansas City, MO, Vince headed to the University of Missouri where he graduated with a Business Degree.  After graduation in 1951, he enlisted in the US Marines for two years and achieved the rank of Sergeant.  The next four years he worked for Brown Shoe Company in St. Louis and met his wife Patricia Lyng Canning.  In 1957 Vince moved to Delray Beach to own and operate his father’s shoe store at 335 E. Atlantic Avenue.  Over the years he expanded the namesake store to the Pompano Beach, Boynton Beach and Boca Raton communities.

Vince believed strongly in serving his Lord and his community and promoting the greater good. He was proud to be an American and the American flag flew at his home daily. Where he saw a need, he did his very best to meet that need himself or find someone with whom to partner. He loved putting a smile on peoples’ faces. On Valentine’s Day, he was known to hand out $2 bills to customers who came in the store wearing red. He was past President of the Delray Beach Chamber, Kiwanis noontime club, and the Atlantic Avenue Assoc. while also serving as a Board member of the Delray Library, Delray Beach Playhouse, the Boca Raton and Boynton Chambers, The Achievement Center, Old School Square, Cros Ministries, his church St Vincent Ferrer and the St Vincent DePaul Society where he was a founding member in 1967.  As a board member, Vince also helped purchase the South County Migrant Association’s first trailers located on their current location before the new campus was built.  For almost 40 years he led the Delray Beach Halloween parade in costume. Vince’s service to the community was apparent as he was recognized as a recipient of the Book of Golden Deeds from the Exchange Club, Rotary Intl’s Service Above Self Award, the Distinguished Member of the Kiwanis’s International Award, The Delray Beach Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and The Patron of the Parish Award of St Vincent Ferrer Church.  The City of Delray Beach also recognized Vince by issuing two proclamations noting his civic accomplishments.  Vince enjoyed nature and walking on the beach as well as the Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge and Wakodahatchee Wetlands.  Ever the Thespian, he acted in many plays at the Delray Beach Playhouse including the lead role of Jack in the play “Jack in the Beanstalk” and also acted in the city play “From Linton with Love” in 2012.  Always the jovial guy, Vince has said in the past, if his life story was made into a movie he’d want Robert Redford to play him. “Robert Redford is good looking, he’s a good all-around person and if people were to attend the movie, they’d say “perfectly cast.”

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter Karen and his sister Joan and her husband Harold Denkler. He is survived by Patricia his wife of 50 years, sister in law Jane Coose, nieces and nephews, Mark Denkler (LaRonda), Shawn Denkler, Jim Denkler (Silvia), Keith Denkler (Rosalind), Ann Denkler (Jett), Jane Thompson, Tom Denkler (Way), John Denkler (Elisa), Cynthia Epperson Coleman (Bruce), Donald Epperson (Roseanne), Mark Epperson (Kelly), Eric Epperson (Amy), Anne Marie Epperson Leung (Kirby), Emily Coose Weber (Adam) and 30 great nieces and nephews.

As a tribute to his Irish heritage, a memorial mass celebrating Vince’s life will be held at St Vincent Ferrer Church, 840 George Bush Blvd, Delray Beach, FL 33483 on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday March 17 at 10:00 am with a reception following at the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Vincent Ferrer Care Ministry at the church address.