June 7, 2024
In loving memory ~
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of William (Bill) Adair on Friday, June 7, 2024.
Born in Grandview Manitoba in 1934, one of six children born to Jim and Ella Adair. Survived by his wife Joan of 63 years and son Larry. Also survived by his brother Tom and family in Winnipeg, MB. and his sister Fay and family, in Strathmore AB.
Bill spent his entire working life in the printing industry starting as a linotype operator setting type for newspapers, first for his Dad in Eatonia, Sk. and then at Kindersley Sk. There he met his wife Joan Cole from Coleville, Sk. They were married in 1960. Bill was interested in travel but needed a job to do so. Cold prairie winters made working in Hawaii sound good. A letter to the Honolulu Beach Press and they responded with a job offer. It was just what he was looking for. So with a suitcase each, off they went to Hawaii. Met friends there who were going to New Zealand for a newspaper job - we decided we could go also. Flew into Auckland, got on a bus and headed down the highway and landed a job on the Rotorua Free Press. While in Rotorua, Bill participated in the city's brass band, playing the base horn. The band played in many parades and concerts. The Kiwis were wonderful to us and were just as curious about Canada as we were about New Zealand. As we were on a U.S. Visa we had to return to the US. We embarked on the S.S. Oronsay for a wonderful experience at sea for 26 days and landed at San Francisco. From there we hopped a bus and headed north. As we were looking for work, Bill would get off the bus and run to the newspaper office asking for a job. If none, back on the bus to the next town. Found one at St. Helena in the Napa Valley. Later we finally bought a car -1955 Chev. Hardtop. We now continued to head north but one more stop in Brewster, Washington. In 1964, missing Saskatchewan, we moved back and settled in Weyburn, Sask. Bill's job as a linotype operator had now changed to offset printing and computers. In 1966 Larry was born and spent his first few years in Weyburn. In 1971 we all moved to Kimberley, B.C. where we started our own print shop. It is now Expo 86 and the lure of the West Coast called us. We settled in Ladysmith in 1988 and soon started Ladysmith Printers. The business sold in 1994. Some of that printing equipment ended up at Parallel Printers. (The cast iron frame that sits in their front yard is the original frame for a paper cutter used by Bill).
In his retirement he enjoyed membership in the Ladysmith Maritime Society and helped the membership restore the "Saravan" and "the Dorothy" He also helped the Society receive grants from the Prov. Govt. by helping at the bingo hall in Nanaimo for several years. In appreciation, the Maritime Society named the boat house housing the Saravan the Bill Adair Boat House.
There will be no service by request. Arrangements entrusted to Evergreen Cremation Center with interment in the Ladysmith Cemetery.