Frederick William Powell (Bill) CROWTHER
October 19, 1923 - August 11, 2016
Bill attended school in Victoria- always grateful to the excellent teaching staff at Victoria High, from which he graduated. After working in retail sales, he joined the Army in 1941. Bill was trained in an anti- aircraft division needed to defend Australia’s North Coast in 1945. Even the sea was dangerous. After WWII ended, he returned and enrolled at UBC. His degree as a Bachelor of Commerce saw Bill recruited by the Hudson’s Bay Company management staff to join their team. He worked as a buyer and department head in furniture and chinaware for the rest of his working years.
Bill volunteered at Expo ‘86 which was held in Vancouver the year he retired for it’s five month duration explaining boats to visitors. His beloved wife, Dorothy Burt, passed away in 1997. He then sold his Vancouver home and moved to Qualicum Beach where he was active in the Anglican Church, volunteered at Eagle Park, The Gardens, and the Salvation Army Food Bank.
Bill was a student of history and politics his whole life and enjoyed traveling to visit places where history was shaped, bringing back art and history books for his excellent home library. Shortly after moving to Qualicum, he met Nancy Chisholm. They really hit it off and Nancy became his best friend and partner. They travelled on many cruises together all over the world, making new friends wherever they went. Bill and Nancy also had a wonderful circle of close friends in Qualicum Beach and shared participating in the community at St. Mark’s Anglican Church.
Bill is survived by his sister, Ann McDonald; niece, Isobel McDonald (Steve Vegh) both of Courtenay: nieces, Nancy (Dilip) Shamanna of Calgary and Madeline McDonald (Dan Olson) of Harrison Hot Springs: nephew, Malcolm McDonald (Alexia Razafinandrasana) of Calgary; two grand nephews of Calgary, Michael and Robert McDonald; two grand nieces of Calgary, Emily (Sean) Duncan and Sylvia (Rob) McCulloch; and three great, great nephews.
His family wish to thank the staff of Qualicum Manor for the very good care they took of “Uncle Bill” (Ann’s wonderful brother) in the final four months of his life.
No service by request, however, there will be A Celebration of Life gathering at St. Mark’s Church Hall, 138 Hoylake Rd W, Qualicum Beach, on August the 27th, 2016 from 1:30 to 4:30. The Celebration will be followed by Evensong Prayers for all those who wish to attend. Bill was a brave, charming, generous man, a great wit, devoted to kindness, throughout his life, to the very end.
He will be greatly missed.
To send a condolence to the family please visit www.yatesfuneral.ca
YATES FUNERAL SERVICE & CREMATORIUM
(250-248-5859) in care of arrangements.