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William Peter Rawlins

November 12, 2004

RAWLINS, William Peter

May 29, 1917 - November 12, 2004.


It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of William Peter (Pete) Rawlins. He passed away suddenly, but peacefully, at the age of 87 years, at home with his wife Jessie by his side.

Pete was born on his family°s farm, the first homestead, on what is now Ruffles Road in Errington. As a young man he was employed by the B.C. Forest Service as a Fire Lookout man and also worked at a variety of jobs in the logging industry. Pete enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 and served in England until his return to Parksville at the end of the war. He joined the B.C. Forest Service as an Assistant Ranger and worked in Parksville where in 1947 he met Jessie, his future wife of 56 years. They were married in Regina, Saskatchewan in 1948 and then returned to Parksville. Their first child, a son, Bill, was born in Nanaimo in 1949. Peter°s B.C.F.S. job took them to Powell River and then onto Alert Bay, where Pete was promoted to Forest Ranger and they had their daughter Connie in 1951. Pete and Jess moved their young family to Duncan in 1955. Pete served as the District Forest Ranger until he resigned from the Forest Service in 1958 and joined MacMillan Bloedel°s Forest Division. The family moved to Cowichan Bay in 1960 where they raised their children. Pete retired from MacBlo as a Reforestation Supervisor in 1977 and he and Jess moved back to Parksville.


Pete loved the outdoors and spent many years with Jessie camping and travelling throughout B.C., Alberta and the rest of Canada. Pete loved fly fishing and instilled his love of this sport into his son Bill and grandson Graham. Pete and Jessie spent many summers in the B.C. Interior camping and fishing at Lac Le Jeune, Kentucky Allyne and many of the lakes in Manning Park. They also spent many holidays in the Caribbean, the Canadian Rockies and of course on his beloved Vancouver Island.


Pete will be dearly missed by his wife Jessie, son Bill (Gina) and daughter Connie (Cliff), grandchildren; Lia, Graham, Lauren and Kelly who will also miss their "Grandpa Rabbit° particularly his sense of humor and how he loved to tease them, many nieces, nephews, family and friends.


There will be no service at Pete°s request.


Cremation arrangements entrusted to Parksville Funeral Chapel.


In lieu of flowers donations can be made to either the B.C. Cancer Society or the B.C. Heart and Stroke Foundation.



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