Obituary
William Alexander (Bill Sr.) Walls
1933 – 2022
The death of retired Miramichi Businessman William Alexander (Bill Sr.) Walls occurred on November 3rd, 2022, at the age of 89 years, at the Miramichi Regional Hospital after a battle with cancer.
Born September 25, 1933, at Tyrrell’s Point, son of James Alexander (Allie) Walls and Charlotte Isabel (Lottie Forrest) Walls. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Agnes Joan (Cameron) Walls who passed away in 2004. Also predeceasing Mr. Walls were four brothers, Lloyd Hubert Forrest, the eldest, who passed away in 2015 in his 97th year. Three other boys died in infancy.
Bill attended Middle Island School, later moving to Wellington Street School when the small school at Middle Island closed for lack of pupils in that community. He finished his formal education at Chatham High School and entered an apprenticeship in the printing trade at the Commercial Press newspaper and printing shop in the Town of Chatham. In 1953 he found employment on the mechanical staff of the Moncton Daily Times in that city. The lure of the (Miramichi) river led him to move his family back “home” in 1964 when he purchased the two local newspapers – The Commercial-World and the defunct Chatham Gazette. The two he later replaced with The Miramichi Press, upgraded, modernized, and more widely circulated.
Through the years, Agnes and all four children were employed in the enterprise thus making it a truly “Family Business”. One son, Ken, continued in the commercial printing industry and for some years owned his own printing business.
In 1976, Walls sold the “Press” to the Cadogan group and concentrated on the growing commercial printing part of the operation later expanding into the office supply and equipment field. With larger premises, the need in the area for office furnishings and business machine sales and service seemed a good next step in meeting the needs of the growing business community.
Following the death of Bill’s wife of 51 years, his business and life partner, much of the fire was “gone from his belly” and a year later, he disposed of most of his business assets and retired.
Surviving are three sons and one daughter: Don (Nancy), Ken (Irene), Debbie (Jim) Burns and Bill Jr (Karen). Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Christina Scott, Robert Clark, Janice Matchett, Charlene Walls, Melissa Steeves, Emily Rogers, Lexie Walls, Scott and Max Walls. A granddaughter, Jennifer Gignac passed away in 2017, a cancer victim at 40. As well, twelve great-grandchildren comprise the family of which Bill was so very proud. They are: Luke and Magnus Scott, Scotty Steeves, Avery and Charlie Rogers, Adyan and Taylor Matchett, Jax and Jase Brown, Bryce, Madison and Chloe Walls.
In his younger years, Bill was an active motorcyclist, small craft sailor and outdoorsman. Later on, he became an avid curler and in summers actively pursued his love of gardening which he continued well into retirement. Making pickles and jams and baking became part of his favorite pastimes on retirement. He enjoyed distributing freshly made cookies amongst neighborhood children in his beloved mini-home community. Two Silky Terriers were a part of the Walls household for many years with the eventual passing of Scooter leaving a notable void which remained unfilled.
Well-known in Rotary circles, he was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Chatham where he served as president for two terms and remained active in other club capacities which included representing the club at several International Conventions. He was an early member of Miramichi Toastmasters, a founding member of the Printing and Associated Industries Association of NB, past president of the Chatham Curling Club, past president of the Chatham Downtown Merchants Association, life member of the NB Scottish Cultural Association, past president of The Highland Society of NB at Miramichi and a former member of the Miramichi Regional Development Corporation. He was the recipient of two Paul Harris Fellowships and Honorary Membership in the Rotary Club of Chatham. He was a 50-year member of the Highland Society of NB at Miramichi which awarded him the William Davidson Medal for Merit in 2013.
The family would like to thank Dr. Gerard Losier for the excellent care that he received over the years, and the staff at Miramichi Hospital for their professional and compassionate care as well as, Sara and Colin Williston and the entire staff at Riverbend Care Home where he resided for the past two years.
At the request of the family, there will be no visitation or funeral services and a private family interment will be held at a later date in the family plot in Pine Grove Cemetery, Loggieville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gerard and Judy Losier Foundation, the SPCA, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Adams Funeral Home Ltd., 140 King Street, Miramichi, NB, telephone (506) 773-3492, or messages of condolence may be sent online to www.adamsfh.ca.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of William Bill Sr A Walls 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Miramichi, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick