Obituary of William BAXTER

July 20, 1924 – Thunder Bay, Ontario

October 24, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

William Baxter of Calgary, AB, passed away on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at the age of 95 years.

Bill was born in Thunder Bay, ON on July 20, 1924, to Kathleen and William Baxter.  The eldest of nine children he graduated from St. Andrews, attended the Port Arthur Collegiate Institute for two years, and thence to Assumption College in Windsor, ON.

After joining the Royal Canadian Air Force and receiving his commission as an Air Bomber Bill was promoted to Flying Officer; he served in the 433 Porcupine Squadron.  After safely completing thirty-four sorties as a Bomb Aimer on Halifax bombers, Bill began teaching radar until the end of the war.

Bill married Norma Deacon in Harrow, Middlesex, UK, in November 1944 and together they had two children, Leslie Ann and Mary Catherine (Kay). The family returned to Thunder Bay for some years before coming back to the UK in 1948.

Bill married Alma Joy Grigor in Ipswich in September 1951 and together they had four children, Joy, Bruce, Anne and Paul.  Moving once again, the Baxters returned to Canada in 1956.

Bill enjoyed a varied career in radar and insurance before relocating to Calgary, AB in 1994 and retired from the insurance business in 2002.

Bill enjoyed all sports and had a passion for tennis and golf, which the whole family played.  Bill and Joy used to spend most Octobers in Pensacola, Florida where they competed in many tennis tournaments.

In June 2012, Bill was honoured with an invitation to attend the unveiling of the Bomber Command memorial in London, England and enjoyed four days of celebration and dedication whilst there. The Queen unveiled the Memorial on June 28, 2012. In 2013 he was asked to lay a wreath for Canada at the one year anniversary of the memorial, which Bill did accompanied by his first great-grand daughter.

Bill will be most remembered for his love of family life; his competitive nature, especially in tennis and golf, which he excelled at; and his keen sense of humour and twinkling eyes.

Besides his loving wife Joy, Bill is survived by his three daughters and sons-in-law, Kay and Keith Shortland from Oxfordshire, UK, Joy and Bryan Each of Calgary, AB and Anne and Ross Eccles of Sidney, BC; and two sons and daughters-in-law, Bruce and Lisa Baxter of Collingwood, ON, and Paul and Charlaine Baxter of Calgary, AB. Bill was also the loving grandfather of Daniel Carriere, Joel Each, Rebecca Pownall, Kristen Gottwald, Paige Richardson, Cole Richardson, David Knight, Aaron Eccles, Jessica Broderick, Adam Baxter, Kristen Papau, Justin Eccles, Vanessa Fortier, Nicola Smith, Tyler Mikuska, Kendra Baxter;  and twenty-one great-grandchildren,

Bill is also survived by his sisters, Mary McCallum and Anne Andrews, and brother Richard Baxter, all of Thunder Bay, ON; as well as numerous nephews, nieces and friends.

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held in the Calgary area in the Spring of 2020.  Condolences may be forwarded through www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

A tree will be planted in living memory of Bill Baxter. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD SE, CALGARY, Ab, t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403- 256-9575.