Obituary of William Frederick Faulkner

November 24, 1950 – Toronto, Ontario

November 30, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

With great sadness, we share the passing of William (Bill) Faulkner on Saturday, November 30, 2024. Bill had a huge love of life and brought laughter and joy to everyone he met. He was a man of integrity, generosity, and an engaging sense of humour.

Bill is survived by, and will be deeply missed by, his loving wife Martha of 48 years, their daughters, Andy (Mike) Timmerman and Paige (Dustin) Maleganeas, and their four grandchildren, Everett and Anouk Timmerman, and Zoe and Niko Maleganeas.

Bill was born in Toronto, ON, on November 24, 1950. He was the youngest of three sons of Charles and Mae Faulkner. He completed an urban planning degree at the University of Waterloo and then a master’s degree at The New School in New York City. In 1975, Bill moved from New York to Alberta to begin his professional career at Alberta Gas Trunk Line. He worked at the Alberta Planning Commission and ExLog before moving on to PanCanadian, EnCana and Cenovus. He was instantly recognizable at work for his whimsical bowties, and he was enjoyed by all for his quick wit and delightful sense of humour.

Bill was a devoted husband to his wife, Martha, and a caring and protective father to his daughters, Andy and Paige, if not their joking tormentor. He was quick with a joke or embarrassing story, to his family’s feigned chagrin and to the amusement of others.

Bill lost his eyesight over the course of his adult life. However, the loss of vision did not stop Bill; it brought him the second love of his life, his guide dog, Armstrong. They were inseparable for ten years, and Bill loved to educate others about the role and companionship of service dogs.

Bill was predeceased by his father and two older brothers due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Bill, who was also diagnosed with IPF, got his "day in court," as he called it when he underwent a double lung transplant in Edmonton in 2023. His journey was fraught with complications, but he was a fierce fighter to the end.

Martha and her family would like to express gratitude to his ophthalmologist, Dr. Andrew Crichton, his family physician, Dr. Geneil Dufresne, and the Lung Transplant teams in both Edmonton, AB, and Calgary, AB.

A celebration of life will be held in early 2025. Details will be made available closer to the time.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Guide Dogs for the Blind International, Website: www.gdbinternational.ca,  or a charity of your choice.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Bill’s family here.

In living memory of Bill Faulkner, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.