Obituary of Francis Matthew Barnsley

Francis (Frank) Matthew Barnsley,

March 14, 1922 to February 6, 2025

Passed away peacefully with his son, daughter-in-law and niece at his bedside. Frank is predeceased by his wife Audrey, and survived by his daughter and son-in-law Christine and Scott McKay of Olds, Alberta, son and daughter-in-law John and Linda Barnsley, grandson Robert Barnsley, niece Helen Flowers and nephew Peter Roberts. He is also predeceased by his partner, Joan Vriend.

Frank was born in Sheffield, England. At the age of 14, he began work as an apprentice carpenter, riding his bicycle to work. Which began a lifelong love of working with wood and cycling. In 1939, with war on the horizon, he volunteered to join the Royal Navy and was called up in 1941. Frank was one of the first Royal Navy sailors to be trained in the operation of a new technology called radar. He was also the last surviving member of the crew of HMS Penelope which sank off the coast of Naples on February 18, 1944. After being demobilized in 1946, he resumed his apprenticeship and bicycle racing, becoming a semi-professional racer. He also met Audrey Chambers whom he married in 1949. The couple immigrated to Canada in 1952, settling in St. Catharines where they raised their children, Christine and John.

Frank was a man of quiet passion and actively pursued a number of interests - sailing with John at Parkway Sailing Club in Fort Erie in the 1970’s, taking up cycling again in the mid-80’s which he continued until the age of 93. He was also an award winning wood carver. For Frank, age was never a barrier, just a number. He was an inspiration to many, but to him, he just got on with it. He will be greatly missed.
The family would like to thank the staff of Niagara Gardens for their kindness and compassion and for making it his home, the nurses of SE Health for their palliative care and the care of Dr. Rory Schafer, Dr. Brian Kerley and Dr. Hyung Kim

A private family service is planned for the near future.