Warrant Officer (Retired) 27 Oct 1936 – 17th Nov 2024 (88)
1 PPCLI
With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing away of William (Bill) Wilkinson on November 17th, 2024.
Born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Bill followed his father’s footsteps and joined the military on his 17th birthday in 1953. He was posted to Calgary with 1 PPCLI for basic training. In 1954, he took the jump course in Shiloh, and had many jumps with the battalion. Bill was posted to Germany 1955-1957 where he met the love of his life, Erika. In 1957 Bill was posted to Victoria, with leave to Glace Bay, where he married Erika who had followed him to Canada.
Together Bill and Erika made their way across Canada by train, arriving January 1958 in Victoria. The posting was until 1963. During that time he welcomed two sons, Bill Jr and Rick. Bill was often away long stretches of time and he also endured a very serious training accident in July 1961 in Wainwright, Alberta. The recovery was long and difficult and he was out of uniform till the summer of 1962. The following year in 1963 he was back to active duty, and posted to Fort McCloud, Germany. The family all moved to Hemer and they stayed until 1966. Posted back to Edmonton the family made their home in PMQ’s and from there Bill went on peace keeping duty in Cyprus. On his return from Cyprus he was posted to Calgary for one year, then posted back to Germany in 1969. In 1970, 3 Mechanized Commando was formed with troops from PPCLI and RCR, therefore the family moved south to Baden-Soellingen, where he was posted until 1974. After that, Bill and the family were posted to Chilliwack BC, where he was an instructor at CFOCS for the next 5 years. During this posting he made many life-long friends.
Bill retired from the military choosing Chilliwack as his home town. He began a new career with BC Corrections. He worked for 18 years, first in the BC forest camps and later at the provincial half way house in town.
Bill took full retirement at 60 and enjoyed many RV vacations in Canada and across the US. Bill was a very active volunteer at Lions club and RC Legion. And his involvement with the Rick Hansen “man in motion tour” awarded him the Canadian Volunteer Medal. He also received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for service.
Never sitting still, either walking or running, Bill was active till his last days, participating in a triathlon in his 50s and walking the Vedder Rotary Trail every day. He loved the company of his grandsons and his great-grandchildren were his pride and joy.
Pre-deceased by his son Bill Jr, in January 2023. Left to mourn, his loving wife Erika, son Rick(Wilma). Grandsons: Justin (Lisa), Matthew(Dorothy), Zachary, Gabriel, Glory (Laura), Victory (Natalie), Benjamin, and Blaise. Great-grandchildren: Jordyn, Kylie, Zoey, Callum, Jaxon, and Amayus.
Left to mourn, his 4 loving sisters, Eunice, Gloria, Dorothy, and Diane and their families in Nova-Scotia. In Germany nephew Klaus (Grazyna) and families.
Also, left to mourn many close and dear friends who were like family to Bill.
“Once a Patricia, Always a Patricia”
No service by request
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