Toth, Frank

FRANK JOSEPH TOTH passed away peacefully at Cedar Creek Adaptacare on Friday, August 17, 2018 at the age of 95 years following a short illness.

Frank was predeceased by his father, Mathias Toth, his mother, Julia Horvath and his sisters, Elizabeth Hando of Kelowna and Helen Mag of Hungary. He was also predeceased by his wives, Priscilla Szabo, Pat Melvin and Lucielle Fievet.

Frank is survived by his sister, Matilda Takacs of Hungary, his three daughters, Myra (Gene) Briggs Keller of Coaldale, Susan Colwell of Lethbridge and Gloria (Fritz) Fransted of Michigan, as well as his step-daughter, Carol Templeton of Colorado and his brother-in-law, Paul Szabo of Lethbridge. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Michael (Nique) Briggs, Keri (Jake) Colwell, Joseph Fransted and Chet Keller, his step-grandchildren, Veronica Dunner and Mike (Aimee) Dunner as well as his great-grandchildren, Katie and Alister and his step-great-grandchildren, Blair, Angelena, Amanda and Justin. Frank will also be dearly missed by his close friend, Margaret Peto of Lethbridge.

Frank was born in Etes, Hungary on March 8, 1923. His parents immigrated with their family to Canada in 1930. As a youth, he worked in the coal mines in Rosedale, Alberta with his father.

Frank become a member of the RCAF in 1942 and later married Priscilla Szabo. They raised their three daughters in the Lethbridge and Calgary areas. Frank has a great love of music and composed songs on the piano in those early days. He also played the violin and mandolin. At the age of 95, he would still play his violin each day when he woke up.

Frank then held various positions including Brakeman for the CPR, Department Manager and Safeway stores, Sales Manager for car dealerships in both Lethbridge and Calgary and Sales Manager for Vulcan Machinery in Calgary and Vancouver.

In retirement, Frank wintered in Yuma, Arizona where he met and married Lucie, who shared his love of music. They volunteered many hours of music there, receiving numerous honours and eventually forming a band. They performed at multiple senior homes, cancer clinics and veteran's hospitals in Yuma and in southern Alberta.

Frank was very active in civic politics in the Lethbridge area, as well as community affairs. He spent time supporting the United Nurses' Union, even to the extent of volunteering on their picket lines. He also worked tirelessly in supporting the mining community in Alberta. He worked to distribute miners' flags in various small communities to be flown on May Day in an effort to recognize the miners and their contribution to the history of southern Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Frank was an avid writer well into his 90s and he had many articles published in the Lethbridge Herald and other publications. This was something that provided him with great joy.

He will be forever missed by all.

A Service of Remembrance will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, Alberta on Friday, August 24, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. with his daughter, Myra Briggs, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, #200, 119 - 14 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1Z6 or to the Canadian Cancer Society, #200, 325 Manning Road N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 2P5.