|
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
MARTIN, William Patrick (Bill) - Passed away on Monday, April 28, 2008, in the Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building, QEII, Halifax. A son of the late Florence (Soward) and Thomas Martin, Bill was born January 29, 1915. He was a lifelong resident of Armdale and was at home on the waters of the Northwest Arm and Atlantic Ocean. He served his country during the Second World War as a wireless operator in the Royal Canadian Navy, on ships including HMCS Restigouche. Bill had a passion for sports, especially rowing, paddling, hockey, sailing, and he loved walking in the woods, hunting and gardening. He could be seen sculling his rowing shell on the waters of the Northwest Arm into his mid eighties. Bill worked for Customs Canada in many capacities including Registrar of Shipping. He was a lifetime member of the Armdale Yacht Club where he sailed for many years and held executive positions including two terms as Commodore. He sailed in several ocean races including nine Marblehead races, and several Newport to Bermuda Races. He was a mentor for many young sailors, and was proud to lead the organizing committee of the first Tall Ships visit to Halifax in 1984. Bill returned to the sport of rowing in the 1980s and helped revive the Halifax Rowing Club. Throughout his life, Bill competed and won many rowing regattas such as Cogswell Harbour Championships in the 1930s, and would later compete at the Head of Charles River Regatta in Boston, Mass., in his seventies. During one such visit to Boston in the 1980s, Bill was scouted by the Ralph Lauren modeling agency and appeared as a Ralph Lauren model in national fashion magazines. Bill and his wife Angela enjoyed their camp in Dean, Musquodoboit Valley, where they spent countless hours gardening and walking in the summers, and cross-country skiing in the winters. They spent many winters in Florida together with family and friends. He was predeceased by wife, Angela (Vaughan). Surviving are his sisters, Irene (Jeff Goode), Mary (Murphy), Joan (Murphy); daughters, Pat and husband Brian Church, Halifax; Peggy and husband Keith Taylor, Wellington; and Jeanne and husband David Ehler, Hubbards; grandchildren, Jonathan (Rachael), Chris, Tim (Penny) and Andrew Church, Ariel (Norm Nelson), Jordan, Hannah, Caleb and Tara Ehler; and four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by sisters, Kathleen (Bailly) and Florence (DeBelie); brothers George, Edward, Thomas and Clarence, and infant brother Thomas. His greatest love was his family. He had a full and exciting life and retold his many wonderful experiences with passion at family gatherings. The family wish to thank RJF Home Care, especially Charles Spurr his long-time care worker, and the staff at Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building, QEII, where Bill spent the last four months of his life under their watchful, kind and compassionate care. Visitation will be Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor St., Halifax. Funeral mass will be Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Church, Armdale. Interment at a later date. Donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia.
Ships served in:
|
