Our hearts are broken, our lives have changed forever and our world is shattered, as we sadly announce the passing of Robert Lindal, a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law and friend to so many. His life ended where it began, in Royal Jubilee 
Hospital after a brief health issue.
Predeceased by his parents, brother Bruce Lindal and sister Barbara Falck, step-father Jack Barnes, brothers-in-law Dwight Smith and Al Falck, he is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Edna Lindal (Levert), children Teri Cotton-Diplock, (son-in-law Randy Diplock, Mia and family) Cindi Story, Gerry Lindal (Dianne Johnston and family), grandchildren Dustin Lindal-Story, Kyle Cotton (Cynthia Barco), Chad Cotton, Blair Cotton, Travis Cotton (Nicole Lessard and family), Breanne Cotton (Jackson DeKock), Brent Story (Alannah Henderson), Chevaun Story (Jill Cooper), Missy Story, and Brandon Story (Dominique Story). Also, great grandchildren Marciano, Chiara, Lucas, Natalia, Damian, Vivian, McKinley, Sage and baby boy Story due any day, and by many other family members.
Our Dad always wanted a big family and his wish was fulfilled, and the family tree will continue to grow, which would have made him so happy.
Born to Joseph and Jean Lindal at Jubilee hospital, he lived his whole life in Victoria. He went to a number of different schools and graduated from Victoria High in 1949. He worked at many different jobs as he grew up, from paperboy, to wood truck delivery driver, to working in different small businesses stocking shelves or doing whatever a company needed. In the 60’s he also worked at his brother’s business at Shrubland.
In 1952 he joined the Department of National Defence Fire Department (also known as Dockyard) which started his career in firefighting. He then made the move to the Saanich Fire Department in 1965, where he retired as a Captain in 1990. He loved being a firefighter and, since his nature was to help people, it fit in well with his values and beliefs of giving back to the community.
Robert (or Bob as he was known to most) met Edna in 1952 and they married in 1954 and started their family in 1955. They lived in downtown Victoria across from Memorial Arena, until they decided to move to Esquimalt in 1965. They wanted to be closer to the Fire Department where Bob worked, but, then Bob decided to go to work for the Saanich Fire Department instead. The new family home was right across from the Esquimalt Plaza and the arena.
He really enjoyed his new neighbourhood and became a pillar of the Esquimalt Community. In 1972 he decided to build an apartment building, where the family home was and they named it the Royal Esquimalt apartments. He also bought the apartment next door to their new apartment building, where the Renaissance is situated today. His other ventures, led him to move a house to a lot on Lyall St to live in, and then he moved the house from downtown, to another Esquimalt location where he resided with Edna for over 40 years. Ownership of his properties changed many years ago, but his love of Esquimalt never did. He remained living in the community, until he went into the Gorge Hospital.
Bob always loved living close to arenas! He wanted all of his kids to be involved in sports, so together Bob and Edna put their children in all the sports available in Esquimalt, from hockey, to figure skating, speedskating, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, basketball, soccer and more. Bob coached many of these sports, (or refereed, or was the umpire or the school sports day co-ordinator, or the president of the association, etc), but his greatest legacy will be his love of hockey and his creation of the Lower Vancouver Island Girls Ice-Hockey Association, so girls could play hockey, too.
“RJ” as he was known at the Gorge Rd Hospital Bridgeview Unit would have wanted us, to thank the staff there, for their care for the last year and a half, as he was waiting for long term care. He had a few health issues, but his mind was still sharp and his sense of humour never faded. He looked to the Gorge as his 2nd home and made friends with the residents there, as well as the staff. He watched the Canuck games in the TV room, as much as he could and some of the staff knowing how much he loved his
hockey, made sure they put the game on for him, if he or his grandson, who went every night to watch the games with him, didn’t get there in time to put the channel on before game time. The night before he passed, he had many of the family in his hospital room and everyone watched the Canucks vs Montreal Canadians game with him, which was even more special, as these were his two favourite teams.
RJ spent eleven days in the Jubilee and was never left alone, even overnight, as the family never wanted to leave his side. This is a testament to the person he was – kind and generous and a truly wonderful man. Two of his grandsons were with him, holding his hand, playing his favourite songs, when he unexpectedly slipped away.
He will be missed by all the family, friends, and others who knew him.
The family would also like to thank the staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital for their care and compassion. You made a difference, at first as we worried about dad, then in our grief.
A Memorial Service was held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Dr., Victoria, BC on Saturday April 20, 2024 at 2:00pm with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Capital Region Female Minor Hockey Association (CRFMHA) or to the Fire Department Charity of your choice.
To view the service, please click the video below:
Condolences can be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
22 Responses
‘Uncle Bob’ was a lovely man who lived an exemplary life of service, both in his work and in his so-called spare time – he will be missed. He could not possibly have done all that he did for the community without his amazing wife. ‘Auntie Edna/Gramma Lindy’ made the home a wonderful place to be each and every day. He was a pillar of the community, and so was she, quietly and lovingly supporting all and sundry with a hug and a smile. It takes immense strength to be gracious. They both have a special place in my heart.
Teri – thank you for everything you said at the ceremony. Teri is a lot of things (kind, smart, funny, ridiculously hard working, brave, organized, honest, dedicated, an excellent coach, ambassador for female hockey, my favorite cousin) and for the record, never once in my entire life did I ever think of her as bossy.
Because of Bob, Edna and Teri, I was able to play hockey, starting in my 30s. Their efforts gave me the chance to play my first team sport and have all the fun of ‘childhood’ that I missed when I was a little girl. Playing hockey changed me, helped me feel better about my body/my self, and gave me the knowledge that I was capable of learning new skills at the same time as having fun with teammates. I’m deeply grateful to them for this priceless gift, and I’m sure I’m not the only one to benefit in this way. What a wonderful legacy you have given to us.
May you rest in peace.
I’m deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my Uncle Bob. He was most cherished by everyone in the family.
Uncle Bob always made an effort to visit me whenever I was in the hospital. I didn’t have many visitors and found it so kind of him to visit me when I so needed cheering up.
He always had a friendly smile and so much love for everyone. His presence will be deeply missed, and his memory will be held close to our hearts.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Auntie Edna and all my cousins during this difficult time.
Bob was a true gentleman but quite the card at times. I rented the old house on Caledonia across from the arena for a short period and was quite taken aback when he actually moved it to a location in Esquimalt where it served as the family home for years. He was a wonderful husband and father.
He was renowned in the community for his dedication to sports and will be sorely missed by all but I shall never forget him.
Our Thoughts, Condolences and Prayers are with all the Family and Friends. Hockey and Lacrosse are mostly remembered. Take care from the Bowles Family. Betty, Kim, Mark and Dennise.
Sending heartfelt condolences to Auntie Edna and to you and yours: Teri, Cindi & Gerry. A couple of life lessons coming from Uncle Bob come to mind: That Coca-Cola is a bad unhealthy choice for a breakfast beverage! He had come down to our suite on Caledonia the morning after a party and discovered my brother Kirk & I helping ourselves to the leftover pop. We were only 3 and 4 years old at the time but I’ve never forgotten his scolding on the subject. He also instructed me as a child on the safe way to wash a glass to avoid getting cut… you do not stick your hand in the glass but only stuff the dishcloth down into the bottom of the glass and swirl it around. Twenty years later after Uncle Bob’s lesson on how to safely clean a glass I did not heed his advice and I jammed my hand into the glass along with the dishcloth and ended up badly slicing my knuckle. I thought of Uncle Bob immediately and have never made that mistake again!
Fun times shared with Uncle Bob included water fights with squirt guns & hoses, ice skating and my favourite, “What Time is it Mr. Wolf” which brought squeals of delight when he (Mr. Wolf) would turn around and chase after us kids.
He will be forever in our hearts and minds.
Edna, Gerry and the Lindal family,
Our heartfelt condolences on the passing of your husband and father.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time.
Rose and Steve Reichardt ❤️
My condolences to the Lindal family. Bob was a role model for all of us. He set a standard for community service that few meet. Thank you Bob for all you have done for female hockey and for sports in general. Maintaining an active lifestyle in a digital age is even more important than when we played as kids. The love of the game that Bob supported and instilled left many of us with a wonderful legacy we still enjoy today, not to mention the priceless friendships.
Our deepest condolences to you Auntie Edna, Teri, Cindy, Gerry and your families. All of us in the Falck family have wonderful memories of Uncle Bob in the early days and into adulthood when families got busy and times together got fewer and fewer. He had a wonderful presence and infectious humour that we witnessed at family gatherings over the years. May he rest in peace where his parents, brother (Bruce) and sister (Barbara) are there to welcome him. ❤️
Well lived life RJ, will never lose thoughts we had over hockey and life in general. You certainly were the slat of the earth “Bob”. Getting to know you and your family when I came to Victoria made me feel so fortunate to have you as a friend. Time passes so fast but memories are always with us. God bless “Bob”
Our sincerest condolences to all of the Lindal family. Our luckiest days for the girls were the best when Bob started the girls hockey team. Most of the hockey equipment in The beginning was borrowed from our boyfriends, and of course Bob who was so enthusiastic to see finally girls playing hockey. We are so fortunate to have been part of this kind, generous and humble man and his family for so many years . Our memories over the years have never been forgotten and still often talked about how much fun we had. Thankfully we all turned out to be responsible adults and commend a lot of this with Edna being at the helm too. She kept us on the straight and narrow when we went on our many trips to the Mainland and once to Regina . One of Bob and Edna’s ideas to get us real hockey jerseys with a name on them for the team was that if we each took home 12 packs of jello pudding and pie filling to eat and keep the box tops …sent them away With a $1 we got a hockey jersey. I don’t think I have bought one since then. lol. Oh the memories. We are all going to miss you Bob. But, know we will all meet up again on another rink and play again . RIP Bob.