August 29, 2018
Peter John Noakes, age 89, died suddenly on August 29, 2018, at his home in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Peter was born in Sheerness, England. He attended residential schools in Bermuda, Jamaica, and Venezuela during the Second World War. He joined Cominco after completing a degree in chemical engineering at McGill University in 1952.
As engineer-in-training, Peter was assigned to the nitrate, phosphate, coke ammonia and heavy water (Project 9) plants at Cominco's chemical and fertilizer operations in Warfield. After receiving his P.Eng. designation in 1955, he worked as development engineer at the electrolytic ammonia plant and superintendent of the chlor-alkali plant. By 1967, he was superintendent of the Warfield chemical and fertilizer division and subsequently assistant manager of metal and mining at Cominco's head office in Trail.
Since 1975, Peter lived in Vancouver. His work included director of Cominco Europe and vice-president of information systems. During his 37-year career, Peter had a hand in projects in Greenland, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Bolivia, Argentina, India, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as Canada and the USA.
In Trail, Peter served as Scout leader. He was elected to Trail City Council and appointed chair of the public works committee after the 1969 flood. He represented the City during establishment of the wastewater treatment plant near Waneta Plaza and construction of the new terminal building at West Kootenay Regional Airport.
After his retirement in 1989, Peter and his wife, Chris, enjoyed travelling, until he was disabled by a stroke in 1998. Peter's fondest memories were of camping with his boys at Whatshan Lake.
Peter is survived by his sons Darrell (Sandra) and Stephen (Linda), former daughter-in-law Colleen, granddaughters Stephanie and Kimberley, and great-grandson Alexander. He is pre-deceased by his parents Alfred and Isabel, wife Loretta (known as "Chris"), brother Derek (Iris) and sisters Pauline (Arthur), Audrey and Lorette.
Memorials may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.