MELFORD RUSSEL WILSON

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MELFORD RUSSEL WILSON Our dear old friend Old Adorable departed this life on Sunday, July 29, 2007 in his 91st year. Mel was born April 3, 1917 in Winnipeg, the youngest child of Heber Switzer and Edith May Hayward Wilson. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Edna Mae, and brother Jack, and survived by nieces Sue and Linda and their families of British Columbia. Mel will be fondly remembered by his friends Merlin and Flora Rich, their daughter Leslie (Doug Brown) and family, son-in law John Cochrane (Dorothy) and family, and son Ross Merlin Rich, all of Paris, Ontario; by Raymond and Wan Shirritt-Beaumont, sons Liam and Kieran (Mel's two little gizzoonis ) and little Emmeline; by lrene Cormack, Jim, Bill, and Susan and families; and by many others in his sports and church circle of friends. Mel was raised in Fort Rouge, and received his education at Lord Roberts, St. John's College, and Kelvin High. From an early age, he was interested in sports, and was known on occasion to jump the fence at River Park, when the senior football league was playing there. He started his football career at Kelvin High, moved on to the Winnipeg Rugby Football team, then to the St. John Roamers that won the Western Canadian Championship. From there he went into the senior league of the Winnipeg Rugby Football Club, which became the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1938 and won the Grey Cup in 1939. Mel played centre and linebacker with the Bombers until 1942, when he joined the Merchant Marines. After the war, he played with the Bombers again, briefly with the Montreal Alouettes, then with the Calgary Stampeders till he retired from football in 1951. Mel had many sport achievements. He was All Western five times, and All Canadian three times, was a member of the Winnipeg Football Hall of Fame, and first president of the Handball Association here. He had trophies in curling, racketball, golf, and won numerous awards for ball room dancing as well. He was cross-country skiing until his early eighties. In 2004, Mel was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame for his individual performance and as a member of the 1939 and l941 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was currently a member of the Alumni Association of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as well. Mel worked at various jobs during his long career, including Winnipeg Hydro and the Labour Board. His last job was commissionaire at the provincial legislature, from which he retired at the age of eighty. As he always said, his career in football predated the big money. From Mel's perspective, his church affiliation was his greatest achievement. After he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1962, he served in many positions of responsibility. It was here that his long association with the Rich and Cormack families began. It was also his influence that brought the Beaumont family into church affiliation, and like the pebble in the sea the ripple effect is still being felt. Mel resided with the Shirritt-Beaumonts since 2003, but health issues necessitated hospital care during the last few months. We would like to thank the staffs of Grace, Misericordia (Cornish 2), and Victoria Hospital for their care of Mel and to Drs. M. Jain and D. Hochmann, who cared for him in his last few days. The funeral service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sturgeon and Ness, on Saturday, August 4, at 1:00 p.m., with interment to follow at Chapel Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mel's memory to the Blue Bomber Never Alone Foundation in support of Cancer Care Manitoba or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to: Chapel Lawn Funeral Home 885-9715

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 01, 2007