GORDON WILLIAM (BILL) RODWAY -

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GORDON WILLIAM (BILL) RODWAY 1924 - 2004 Bill Rodway passed away peacefully at the Nanaimo General Hospital at the age of 79 years after a brave three year struggle with cancer. Bill was born in Winnipeg on December 9, 1924. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Fran and sister Mae. He is survived by his brother Don (Colleen) and family. He will be lovingly remembered by his son Gordon (Jan) and grandsons, Mike and Chris and daughter Susan (Jan Swaak) and granddaughters, Natalie and Carolien. Bill served a few years with the RCAF during the Second World War. After returning home, he attended the University of Manitoba and earned his Bachelor of Commerce at which time he married Fran. He then began selling insurance and then business machines with R.L. Crane. His friendly manner and entrepreneurial spirit were the mainstay of his success. He then joined Eatons in Winnipeg and advanced through various positions in Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Toronto. During his years at Eatons he became a Mason and then was a member of the Shriners Khartum Temple and was very active in the Drum and Bugle Corp. in Winnipeg. After leaving Toronto, he and Fran chose to move to the more moderate climate of British Columbia, living in Port McNeil and Abbotsford where Bill sold furniture, finally they owned and operated a Tropic Sun Fruit and Nut franchise in White Rock. They then retired back in Abbotsford. Fran passed away in 2001 and shortly thereafter Bill moved to a retirement residence in Brandon, MB. In March of this year he moved to Nanaimo. In honour of Bills request there will be no funeral, but a celebration of his life will be arranged and announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. His quick wit and wonderful sense of humour will be missed by all his friends and family.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 04, 2004