WILLIAM (GILLIE) CHELL CHATTAN GILLESPIE

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WILLIAM (GILLIE) CHELL CHATTAN GILLESPIE Peacefully in Mississauga, after a long illness, in his 89th year. Beloved husband for 68 years of Joyce (nee Randall). Also survived by his three children, William (Marilyn) of Toronto, Barry (Marcia Solomon) of Boulder, CO, and Gaye Bougie (Robert) of Brampton. He will be sadly missed by his six grandchildren. Bill grew up in Vancouver and Winnipeg. In the Second World War he served in the army and then as tail gunner on a Lancaster with the 103rd Squadron Bomber Command. Shot down on his 23rd mission, he remained a prisoner of war for two years. After the war he was with the Winnipeg Police Force until rejoining the RCAF from which he retired in 1969. After this he taught as a special education teacher for 17 years at W.J. Fenton in Brampton. A lifelong learner, he received his B.A. from York University in 1978. Active in the Scouting movement from the age of nine, he served as Scout master for numerous troops across Canada and as District Commissioner for Brampton receiving the Silver Acorn for 60 years of service to the Boy Scouts of Canada. Bill also found time to serve as a swimming instructor for the Red Cross, teaching over 1000 young people to swim. In Brampton, for many years after his retirement, he conducted tours for the Peel Heritage Museum. A drum major in the RCAF, he was selected to be part of the Canadian contingent in Her Majesty's Coronation in 1952. The family would like to express its appreciation for the care given to Bill by the staff of Sunrise Mississauga in his final years. Funeral Services will be held at the Andrews Community Funeral Centre, 8190 Dixie Rd., Brampton (N. of Steeles Ave. 905-456-8190), at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2010, a reception will follow, then interment at Meadowvale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Scouts Canada-Blue Springs Camp or the Red Cross.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 08, 2010