WILLIAM GORDON (BILL) WALDIE

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WILLIAM GORDON (BILL) WALDIE William Gordon (Bill) Waldie died peacefully on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. For most of the last two years he resided in the Deer Lodge Centre in Winnipeg. Bill will be sadly missed by his beloved wife Carolyn, daughter Cathie, sons David (Nancy), Gordon (Donna), and Paul (Kate), grandchildren Anna, Erin, Jonathan, Bethany, Nate, Rachel, Jay, Augusta, Ethan, great-grandson Noah, and nephews Bruce and Ted Waldie of Montreal. Bill was born on January 11, 1917 in Winnipeg to Edwin and Pearl Waldie. He spent his early years in Mortlach, SK and Vanguard, SK where he lived in the second floor of the bank that his father was manager of. When he was six, he lost his mother and spent his school years with his brother Jack living with his grandparent Campbells, also with Grandma Waldie and later with his dad in a boarding house on Spence Street. Bill grew up through the "dirty 30's" in Winnipeg and earned his way into college with a Free Press paper route on Sherbrook Street. He excelled at math in school and attended United College and graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1939. His first job was with CN railway. In 1940 he applied to the fledgling Trans Canada Airlines (TCA) and was employed in Winnipeg in the accounting office. He worked for the airline, later named Air Canada, for 36 years. He spent the last 20 years as Accounts Payable Supervisor. In 1941 Bill joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He signed up and was sent to McGill University for training and later to the top secret training facility at Clinton. From there he was assigned to radar bases in New Brunswick and later Pooch Cove, Newfoundland. There was a shortage of trained Radar technicians and Bill was assigned to a R.A.F. squadron in England where he spent the remainder of the war. Bill returned from the war on the Queen Elizabeth in 1946 after which he purchased a new house in Wildwood Park. The house and development were later submerged in the flood of 1950. Bill enjoyed golf, and with his airline pass travelled extensively throughout North America and Europe. In 1967 Bill married Carolyn and resided in their home on Rowandale Crescent in a beautiful spot overlooking Kildonan Park. They remained together for the next 46 years. For Bill church was an important facet of his life. Bill and Carolyn were, for many years, members of John Black Memorial United Church where he was treasurer, and also Knox United Church. He later loved attending Rowandale Baptist Church. Bill was a longtime member of the East Kildonan Kiwanis and the Henderson Highway Branch 215 of the Legion. He had knee replacement surgery at age 89 and elbow replacement surgery at age 90. At age 93 Bill found it difficult to maintain the home and he and Carolyn moved first to Seine River retirement residence and later, as a result of failing health, to the Deer Lodge Centre. A Funeral Service will be held at Thomson "In the Park" Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. on Monday, December 2 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the Salvation Army: National Processing Centre, P.O. Box 8200, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4W5. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff of Tower 5 at Deer Lodge Centre, and to Dad's care companion Abu Biramo for the compassion they showed Dad during his time there. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 30, 2013