William “Bill” Frederick MacDonald

May 22, 1923 – April 19, 2009

The family of Bill MacDonald announces with sadness that Bill passed away Sunday, April 19, 2009 at Victoria Hospice, Victoria, B.C.
Bill was born at his childhood home in North Dumfries Township in Ontario, son of A. Fred and Sarah MacDonald. He attended Riverside School and Galt Collegiate Institute, Cambridge. Bill is survived by his loving wife Sheila, daughter Joan (Fred Duckloe), Stroudsburg, PA and son Bruce (Jane) Nashville, TN and his daughter-in-law, Janice of Atlanta, GA. He was predeceased by his eldest son, David, on August 10, 2007, his parents in the 1980’s, and his sister Marion in 1932. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Christina, Katrina and William MacDonald of Georgia, Robert, Michael and Rebecca MacDonald of Tennessee and Gregory and Allison Duckloe of Pennsylvania, and by his brother, Bruce (Florence) and nephew Reed of St. John, NB.
Bill served in the RCNVR from 1942-1945 with active sea duty on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans aboard the frigate HMCS Dunver. In 1946 he was released from his naval duties, began his working career, married Sheila and together they began raising their family.
He earned his Registered Industrial Accountant certification (CMA) in 1963 and served as Chairman of the Grand River Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Cost Accountants of Ontario in 1967-68. He was a member of the Society of Management Accountants and held career leadership positions with Babcock Wilcox in Galt, Dahmer Steel in Kitchener and retired as Vice-President, Treasurer from Apex Metals in Kitchener, Ontario in 1989. Upon retirement, he and Sheila returned to her childhood home in Victoria, BC.
Bill was a member of Christ Church Cathedral where he served on the Finance Committee and the Stewardship Committee and during his days in Galt was active at Trinity Anglican Church. He previously served as Rector’s Warden at the Church of the Holy Saviour in Waterloo, Ontario.
Bill’s childhood love of the sea remained with him and he was a member of RVYC, the Maritime Museum, Sail and Life Training Society as well as the Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons. He sailed extensively throughout Georgian Bay as well as the Pacific Coast. He also enjoyed the past 20 summers, along with his family, at his cottage in Parry Sound, Ontario.
Bill was also a member of the Monterey Centre where he enjoyed games of bridge with friends. He was a gifted cabinetmaker with an eye for detail having learned from his father, and he, in turn, taught his sons. He loved classical music and opera and he travelled the world with Sheila including safaris in East Africa and explorations in Russia, Europe, the UK, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand and coast-to-coast across Canada and the USA.
His wife, family and many friends will miss his wit, wisdom, sense of humor and his kindness, honour, integrity, and sense of duty. He was loved and respected by all.
Service at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 25 in the Lady Chapel, Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave., Victoria, B.C. Interment of ashes at Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Ontario is planned for this summer.
Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, Christ Church Cathedral Music Endowment Fund and Victoria Hospice.