Obituary
Shortly after midnight on January 10th, 2022, William (Bill) Barclay passed away peacefully, still bathed in the glow of a magnificent Chinook arch sunset hours earlier, and surrounded by music, prayers, and his family’s love.
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland on February 17th, 1938, to Gudbjorg Jonsson and Adam S.H. Barclay, Bill was the fifth child of seven. In his youth, Bill was captivated by the amazing beauty and complex geology of the British Isles. This fed his academic passions and he subsequently graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an honours geology and geophysics degree. Lured by the petroleum industry and looking for adventure, Bill came to Calgary in 1964. Soon after arriving in Canada, Bill met his life’s companion Leona (née Skibo), whom he married in 1970, and subsequently spent 51 years with.
In a career that spanned five decades, Bill worked as a geologist/geophysicist in Calgary, the UK, and the South Pacific, later becoming a lecturer at SAIT. Throughout his life, Bill spent countless hours contributing to his city, church (Grace Presbyterian), and community, volunteering at events, on numerous boards and committees, and through local charities such as Inn from the Cold and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Bill had an inquisitive mind and a remarkable thirst for knowledge and was always surrounded by stacks of books, passages of his own writings, and reams of Suduko puzzles. His love of astronomy would take him outside on cloudless nights with his telescope where he would spend hours gazing at Jupiter, Saturn, and far-away galaxies. Family was very important, and Bill always made sure to keep up with his extended clan overseas. Although devoted to his homeland of Scotland, Bill became deeply attached to his Viking heritage, revelling in both his Norman-Scottish roots as well as his Icelandic maternal DNA.
Along with his wife Leona, Bill will be remembered and celebrated by his children Neil (Krista) and Katrina (Patrick); grandchildren Lachlan, Beatrice, Graham, and Meredith; sister Nora and brother Alan (Dorothy); brother-in-law Don; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends in Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Iceland, and around the world.
The family would like to thank all the healthcare workers who treated, cared for, and doted on Bill over the years, helping keep him with us for as long as he did. Donations in his memory can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. A celebration of Bill’s life will be held in the Summer of 2022.
“Dad & Grandpa, you are now truly on the edges of the universe and off on your greatest Viking adventure yet.”
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William (Bill) Barclay, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of William Bill Barclay February 17 1938 January 10 2022 (age 83)..
Death notice for the town of: Calgary, Province: Alberta