William WRIGHT

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WRIGHT: William Henry Wright of Brandon, formerly of Rivers, MB, beloved husband of Annie, father of David Wright and Rosemary Justice (Gordon), grandfather of Angelica, Aaron and Richele Wright. It is with deep sadness that the family announce Bill’s death at Hillcrest Place, Brandon, on January 14, 2012 in his 86th year. Bill was born August 15, 1926 Ratter and Dunnett Twp, Ontario on his grandfather Adams’ farm to William and Katie Wright. He was the firstborn of 12 children. His schooling was partly in the CNR “school on wheels” which is now a museum at Clinton, ON. Through correspondence, Bill eventually attained Grade XII. He excelled in math, geography and science. At age 18, Bill joined the Canadian Army (Infantry) and took basic training at Brantford. He was posted to Rivers, became a paratrooper in the Special Air Service following 3 months at Fort Benning, Georgia, on a Pathfinder Course. He met and married Annie Laurie White in 1949. They lived briefly at Rivers, then Brandon, before being posted to CFB Petewawa, ON. Bill had been with the contingent of soldiers fighting the Red River flood at Winnipeg in 1950. Bill was soon promoted to the rank of Sgt., training men for battle in Korea. He went there with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, in 1952. Thirteen months later, he returned and was posted to London, ON, buying his first car in 1954. He was sent to North Bay, then Sault Ste. Marie, then Sudbury on recruiting staff. At Sudbury, son David arrived. The next posting was at St. Catherines, ON on Instruction Cadre duty. The family settled in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Daughter Rosemary arrived. Next posting was back to London. In 1965, the family arrived in Germany, policing “The Wall” in West Germany, on a 3 year stint with the RCR. Bill purchased a Volkswagen from the factory and drove the family to many European cities. Back in Canada in late 1968, Bill was posted to Edmonton and began parachuting again. He was officially discharged in May 1970, having earned the rank of Warrant Officer. The family spent 6 months in Ft. McMurray, AB and 18 years in Stewart, BC. He worked for BC Hydro 13 years as an operator area dispatcher. Bill built a large house in Stewart. He loved to fish and hunt, keeping the family freezer well stocked with moose meat and salmon. It was at Stewart where Bill and Navy veteran and friend John Keresman organized an International Sea Cadet Corps, enlisting boys and girls from Stewart, and from Hyder, Alaska less than a mile away. These many years later, cadets are still sending Bill Christmas cards and letters with pictures of their children. Bill loved children and he was always willing to play the part of Santa Claus in December to the delight of children and adults alike, who didn’t know whether to call him Captain or Santa! While living in BC Bill was appointed as BC Coroner. This began an interesting phase in his life beginning in Stewart and ending in Duncan where he retired at 67 years of age. He and Annie moved to Sechelt where their grandchildren lived. Angelica now lives in Halifax, NS, Aaron is at UBC, Vancouver and Richele is in Sechelt. Bill loved them with all his heart. Bill brought Annie home to Manitoba in 2006, shortly after the symptoms of ALS began. He entered the Assiniboine Hospital late March 2011, spent 5 months there and was transferred to Hillcrest Place on September 1, 2011. Bill was predeceased by his parents, brothers Jack, Bob, and Howard; sisters Dorothy Graham and Rose Evanush. He is survived by brothers, Tom (Tom passed away January 26, 2012), Leonard and Clifford and sisters Kay Nuttley, Ellen Charbonneau, and Betty Restoule. Funeral service was held at River’s Baptist Church January 21, 2012 with Pastor Wil Warkentin officiating. Interment in River’s Cemetery. Three members of the Korean Veterans Association paid their respects in a short service of remembrance. Many thanks to the pallbearers: Annie’s brother Tom White, Annie’s nephews Al White, Bill and Bob McCluskey, Grant Nickles, and friend of the family Alvin Lepp. Thank you to all who visited Bill, he was comforted by your prayers. Thank you to Memories Chapel, Brandon, and to the Ladies Auxiliary Legion Branch 75 at Rivers, for your caring and kind services. Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to The Gideons, P.O. Box 3619, Guelph, ON, N1H 7A2 or ALS Society of Manitoba, 493 Madison Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3J 1J2.

As published in Brandon Sun on Feb 11, 2012