CHALLONER, Richard
1933 – 2025
Richard Peter Challoner, formerly of Edmonton, Alberta, passed away at Red Deer,
Alberta, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the age of 92 years.
Peter (Pete, Pietje, Pea-Sea, Opa) is dearly missed by his wife Loes, daughters Hilary
(Scott) and Pamela (Jeff), and grandson Kaden. He is lovingly remembered by his
brother Jeff (Shirley), nephews David and Kevin, niece Heather and their families, as
well as British and Dutch family abroad. Peter was predeceased by his beloved mother
Myrtle Wilding (Butler), stepdad Peter Wilding, and father Ken Challoner.
Peter was born in Epsom, England on April 20, 1933. In his autobiography written in
2018, Peter fondly recalled childhood years spent with family in Devon at Slapton Sands
and Start Bay, UK. He wrote of camping out with friends, climbing hills of primrose and
wild daffodil, mackerel fishing in a “clinker-built boat,” and seeing lines of Merchant
ships flying Barrage balloons on the horizon “to harass dive bombers!” during WWII.
At 16, Pete “ran away” to the Royal Navy (East Cornwall, H.M.S. Fisgard, H.M.S.
Collingwood) where he apprenticed as an electrician. A talented musician, he played
brass tenor horn in the Navy bands. He remembered “the bands would parade
alongside the ‘Sailor’ Bands, apprentices dressed ‘fore and aft’ rig… a battledress
uniform.”
Peter transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1953, following his mom and brother
who moved to Canada a few years prior. As a Leading Seaman (HMCS Ontario) he
sailed from Esquimalt, BC to ports including Panama, Copenhagen, Auckland, and
Yokohama. From these years, Peter remembered singing in a swing band, falling from a
hammock onto a mess table when the ship rolled, and narrowly catching his ship’s
departure while on leave in Plymouth.
After nine years of full-time Naval Service, Peter entered Union College in Victoria, BC
as an Officer Cadet in the University Naval Training Division, studying Arts, Theology.
He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree but mused how he “kinda fell in love, but
kinda fell apart in his school work” when he met Loes (Rosenthal) at the fall closing of
Camp Fircom at Gambier Island, a St. Andrew Wesley United Church young-people’s
event.
Peter and Loes married July 2, 1965. Daughters, Hilary and Pamela were born and the
family settled in Edmonton. Peter worked as a driver-salesman for Fabric Care and later
Todd Cleaners. Describing those years, Peter wrote “93 street never had it so good:
with Hilary, Pam, Sabrina, Sally, Sheryl and Loes, Gertie and Kim.” He remembered
skating at Bonnie Doon rink and creating the prop for Hilary and Sabrina’s jazz dance
performance of “Grease.”
Throughout his life, Peter had a passion for sailboats and rigging. He shared “I HAD 3
Ships… a-sailing then,” “good stuff for a ‘LiLoldsalt’.” The first a 16’ wooden sailboat

with fire damage, then his “pride’n joy” a Bombardier 4.8 (16’), and finally a PICO 11’6.
Sailing and camping trips were frequent, including Cooking Lake, Pigeon Lake,
Miquelon, Wabamun, and Okanagan, BC.
Peter greatly enjoyed traveling. Often trips with the family included visiting the Wildings
in Winfield, BC, and relatives in England and The Netherlands. Together with Loes,
Peter saw Alaska and New Zealand. Together with his brother Jeff, Peter experienced
the traditional music of Newfoundland and the Oberammergau Passion Play in
Germany. He fondly remembered visiting the snow monkeys of Japan with Pam and Jeff
and sharing the miniature city of Madurodam in Holland with his grandson Kaden and
Hilary and Scott.
Peter’s incredible singing voice brought joy to many. He was happiest playing gigs –
singing tenor and playing accordion, guitar, or keyboard. Peter remembered his first
performance, singing ‘Songs my Mother Taught Me’ at Worcester’s Methodist church at
age 11. In Edmonton, Peter belonged to a variety of men’s choirs, barbershop quartets,
and the Strathearn United Church choir. At age 80, he produced a compilation CD with
his brother and later formed the band ‘The Happiness Crew’ with friends Ralph, Pat and
Anna.
In recent years Peter’s beautiful voice was quieted by depression and other health
challenges. Despite his inability to engage as he loved to do, Peter’s kindness, concern
for his family, and interest in all that was going on continued. In Peter’s words…
“My ‘petty problems seem small
They’re not really big after all;
The World, as you know, has MILLIONS
Of those who have never known PEACE and GOODWILL
So as CHRISTMAS APPROACHES once more,
My Greetings as Never Before.
Pray and Give Thanks… Give to those in the ranks
Of the unemployed, destitute, sad.
LIVE, GIVE, and LOVE… Let us share what
we have. Praise the Lord, SING out Loud,
And be Glad.”
A Celebration of Life will be planned by the family for a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting a charity of your choice in loving memory of Richard Peter Challoner, a son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather and friend.
Cremation entrusted to Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, Red Deer, Alberta. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com

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• Date : 2025-06-23
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