WALTER ALVIN SMITH GREEN

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WALTER ALVIN SMITH GREEN April 22 1918 - March 27 2004 With his family beside him, Walter died peacefully at West Park Manor, his home for the past five years. Cherishing memories of his kindness and generosity are Jean (Byles), his wife of 61 years; and his children, Marilyn (Dan) and Jim (Cindy). Grandchildren, Jody, Alison, Jennifer and Lindsay Green, and Jenna, Hilary, Nicholas and Christian Albrecht, were an endless delight to him until his very last day. Also remembering him are his sisters-in-law, Irene Taylor of Toronto, Alice and Ferne Green of Portage la Prairie and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, Bill, Lloyd and Cecil; sisters-in-law, Shirley Green and Evelyn Flood; and brother-in-law George Taylor. Walter, the youngest son of Sadie and George Green, grew up on a farm in the Portage district. His early education was at East Prospect and Nairn Schools. In 1937 he attended the Winnipeg Provincial Normal School where he was awarded the Lord Strathcona Gold Medal for Physical Education. During the following years he taught at Burnside and Victoria School in Portage then in Minnedosa for six years as principal of the South School. He also taught in Neepawa for two years where his hockey team won a Provincial Championship. In 1949 he joined the Winnipeg School Division teaching at Victoria Albert and Aberdeen Schools. For six years he was a member of the Child Guidance Clinic. Following a chance meeting with the superintendent of the Etobicoke School Division (Toronto) he accepted the vice-principalship of West Humber School. While he enjoyed the experience of teaching in a different province, two years later, his prairie roots prevailed and he returned to Winnipeg to become the principal of Britannia School. In 1966 he took on the superintendency of East Kildonan School District which later became River East School Division. He retired in 1978. Walter earned B.A., M.A., and M.Ed. degrees from the University of Manitoba. He participated in many professional associations. Upon his retirement he was recognized with an honorary life membership in the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents. A longtime member of the United Church of Canada Walter became an elder in every congregation to which he belonged. One of his happiest moments was to officially open the doors to the newly constructed sanctuary of Westworth in March 1959. He served the congregation as secretary, clerk of session, and president of A.O.T.S. As a founding member of Westworth he took great pride in watching his church grow. Walter was a man who celebrated life in every way, he saw good in everyone and everything. He used to say he was raised on baseball and hockey but in later years his passion was golf. He enjoyed his golfing partners at Breezy Bend for 30 years. His love of history and geography took his family on some interesting vacations. The highlight was in 1971 when for five weeks his family enjoyed travels in Europe. When the children were young, they camped from one coast to the other. Jean and his family will be forever grateful for the kind and loving care given to him at West Park Manor especially the staff of 2-EAST. A service to celebrate Walters life will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, April 5, at Westworth United Church, 1750 Grosvenor at Lanark. Interment of ashes at Portage La Prairie at a later date. If friends so desire, memorial donations can be made to Westworth United Church or a charity which enhances the life of children. THOMSON Funeral Chapels - 669 Broadway - 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 03, 2004