OBITUARY
Wilfred “Wilf” Bowns
September 20, 1917 – July 20, 2018
Wilf Bowns died on July 20, 2018 at the age of 100 years in the Lodge at Broadmead in Victoria, British Columbia.
Wilf Bowns was born on September 20, 1917 in Spokane, Washington. His father and mother were married in Edmonton but moved to the States during WWI because his father was a conscientious objector. When Wilf was 2 years of age, his father died and his mother moved him back to Edmonton where she worked as a tailor.
After leaving high school in Grade 11 in 1933, Wilf worked for Paulin Chambers Biscuits and Candies for approximately 8 years as a truck driver and then as a salesman. He met Marjorie at a dance at the Masonic Temple in Edmonton in 1940 and they were married on September 19, 1941.
Near the beginning of WWII, Wilf was called up by the army but rejected due to militia records indicating he had injured his ankle / leg at summer camp. He enlisted in the Canadian army in March 1943 and served in Italy, Southern France and the liberation of Holland with the First Division, Loyal Edmonton Regiment and the First Special Service Force.
After returning to Edmonton at the end of the war, Wilf and Marj moved to Winnipeg where he worked for 2 years as a salesman. They spent the next 26 years in Lethbridge where he worked for 6 years as a salesman, owned and operated Bowns Supply Centre (farm and garden supplies and hardware) for 10 years, was General Manager at 2 companies and the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, and was Area Manager at a mutual fund company. He also ran unsuccessfully as a Conservative candidate for Lethbridge in the 1967 Alberta provincial election and following this served as an Alderman for 1 year.
While in Lethbridge, Wilf was an active member of the Rotary Club and the Junior Chamber of Commerce, taught public speaking and citizenship classes , and hosted a TV gardening show for 3 years.
In 1973, they moved to Edmonton where Wilf worked for 9 years in the Alberta Department of Agriculture in International Marketing becoming Director for livestock, grains and manufacturing.
In 1997, they moved to Victoria where Wilf consulted briefly for the Federal Business Development Branch (CASE Counselling Assistance to Small Enterprise). Wilf and Marj soon became active members of the Unity Church of Victoria.
Wilf lived the Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you), went out of his way to meet and greet new people, and believed in the power of positive thinking. He had a great sense of humour and a strong baritone voice. His smile and hearty laugh were infectious. He was a devoted, loving and caring husband, a wonderful father, uncle and grandfather. He was a bright light in this world and will definitely be missed not only by his immediate family but by his two families in Victoria at the Wellesley where he lived and at the Unity Church.
Wilf was predeceased by his parents, his soul mate and beloved wife of 63.5 years, Marjorie Bowns (Manton), his sister-in-law Doris Weber (Manton) and her husband George Weber.
He is survived by his two sons Laurie (Elizabeth) Bowns and Kevin Bowns; three granddaughters, Jennifer (Travis) Nyberg, Melissa (Trevor) Johnson, and R’shelle (Kurt) Delorme; six great grandchildren plus three nieces, Evelyn (Jim) Bowersock, Carol (Mike) Morse and Donna Tingley as well as their families.
Special thanks to the many caregivers from Beacon Community Services and members of the Victoria Health Unit (occupational therapists, home care nurses, case workers) who assisted Wilf over the past year and to the staff of the Lodge at Broadmead who cared for him during the last ten days of his life.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Wilfred Wilf Bowns 2018.source
Death notice for the town of: victoria, Province: Colombie britanique