BARON, William Roland
Passed away peacefully with his loving family around him on October 6th, 2012.
Predeceased by his wife Colleen, on April 27th, 2004, William (Bill) is lovingly survived by: his daughters Eileen (Terry) Turner, Lorraine (Jim) Addison, both of Nanaimo, BC; Vivian (Corby) Lamb, of Campbell River, BC; Tricia (Craig) Abbott, of Nanaimo, BC; son Bob (Corrie) Baron, of Port Alberni, BC; his brother Ted (sister-in-law Lenore, predeceased) Baron, of Campbell River, BC; predeceased by brother Don Baron (survived by sister-in-law Jeanette), of Comox, BC; predeceased by sister-in-law Bev Conrod (first wife of Don Baron) of Nanaimo, BC; survived by his sister-in-law Patricia (Len) Robinson of Chemainus, BC; his aunt Winnie Reavill of Campbell River, BC; his grandchildren: Teresa, Donna, Melanie, Jim, Lindsay, Tricia, Ryan, Denise, Patrick, Laura, and Nicole; several great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews (predeceased by his nephew Gordon Baron).
Bill was born on September 27th, 1926, to Bill and Edna Baron (both predeceased) in Powell River, BC, where he and his brothers shared wonderful memories fishing and camping with their mother. While growing up, the family moved to Vancouver Island, where in Ladysmith, Bill eventually met the love of his life, Colleen. At 19, Bill went to Vancouver alone and joined the Army at Little Mountain, he travelled as far as Toronto, but the war ended. Bill and Colleen were married for 57 years. Bill was a devoted father to his five children, and he and Colleen raised them primarily in Nanaimo, BC, where he built the family home in Chase River, and worked at Nanaimo Lakes for Crown Zellerbach. Within that period, the family spent a year (1964) in Kokish, BC (near Telegraph Cove), where Bill worked as a log foreman at Beaver Cove. At Kokish, the family made many friends, and Bill eagerly attended many community events, including Logger’s Sports day, where he was very good at log burling. Bill, Colleen, and their son Bob, moved to Tahsis, BC in 1972, where Bill worked for Tahsis Company Ltd. Bill and Colleen made many good friends there, and enjoyed trips around the West Coast, being especially fond of Friendly Cove. Bill spent the latter part of his life in Ladysmith with Colleen, where he worked as a log scaler and in the office for Pacific Forest Products, retiring in 1989.
Bill enjoyed spending time with his family, musical get-togethers with his brothers, camping, fishing, smoking salmon, gardening, carpentry, fine woodwork, travelling and hockey. He took great pride in everything he did.
Bill’s family wishes to extend their appreciation to Wexford Creek Retirement Home in Nanaimo, where, while Dad spent his last few years of life, he was lovingly cared for by the staff.
A reception will be held on Sunday, November 18th, 2012 at 1:00pm at the Eagle’s Hall, Ladysmith, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Good Samaritan Society: www.gss.org/make-a-donation/ would be appreciated.
“Those were the days my friend,
we thought they’d never end,
we’d sing and dance forever and a day.”