WILLIAM JOSEPH THOMSON 1904-2001

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WILLIAM JOSEPH THOMSON 1904-2001 On Thursday, February 1, 2001, in his 97th year, William Joseph Thomson passed away at Victoria General Hospital. Bill was born at Russell, Manitoba on December 21, 1904, the eldest child of Robert and Laura Thomson. He spent his early years at MacNutt, Saskatchewan, moving to Winnipeg with his family in 1923. He was a long time employee of Eatons, joining them in 1929 where, except for six years on active service during the Second World War, he remained for over 40 years, retiring in 1970 as Company Credit Promotion Manager. Bill was a past President of the Credit Grantors Association of Winnipeg and a past President of the National Office Management Association Winnipeg Chapter. He was also a member of the Canukeena Club, Secretary of the Massed Pipes and Drums, Life-member and past Secretary-Treasurer of Crescentwood-River Heights Royal Canadian Legion and a Life-member of the Royal United Services Institute of Manitoba. He was a member of Fort Garry Masonic Lodge No. 130, a Life-member of the Scottish Rite of the Freemasonry and a member of the Kartum Temple Shrine. He was a long time member of St. Andrew River Heights Church, the Saint Andrews Society, The Winnipeg Winter Club and was a past Executive Secretary of the Canadian Club of Winnipeg. Bill was a member of the R.C.N.V.R. from 1927-1930. In 1935 he joined the Canadian Melita and in May 1940 was mobilized in the Royal Canadian Signal Corps with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and proceeded overseas with them in July 1941. In the spring of 1944 he was posted to the Q(AE) Branch of the Canadian Ordinance Corps in London, England where he remained until the war ended, returning to Winnipeg in May 1946, where he was demobilized with the rank of Caption. While serving overseas he was appointed a " Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau" by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. Work and community were of great importance to Bill but above all his family was the most important. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and nothing pleased him more than a family get together. He will he sorely missed. He was predeceased by an infant sister Eva May in 1904; his father Robert in 1945; his brother John in 1971; his mother Laura in 1979; his daughter Doreen Patricia in 1990; his brother Lawrence in 1997; his brother Walter in 1999 and by his dear wife Elizabeth in 1997. Surviving are his daughter Joyce (Peter) Dafoe, son-in-law Tom Moar; grandchildren, Bill, Joyce, Norma, Karen, Donna, Elizabeth, Van, Adam, Lynne; his sister Verna Armstrong and by many great and great-great grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephew, and cousins. Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 5, at 12:30 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue with Reverend Terry Hidichuk and Janet Walker presiding. Interment and reception will follow. Arrangements entrusted to: CHAPEL LAWN FUNERAL HOME CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM 885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 03, 2001