Eleanor Bill
March 18, 1923 - Jan 9, 2013
It is with great sadness that the family of Eleanor Ruth (Wilson) Bill announces her passing. At age 89, she passed away at Williams Lake Seniors Village, on Jan 9, 2013 after a long battle with pneumonia. Eleanor was born March 18, 1923 in Rosalind, Alberta to parents Frank and Bessie (Bundy) Wilson. She had a strong will that helped her survive many challenges in her life. She was a premie baby, born at home and not expected to live. She also had TB and spent time in a sanitoriam in Victoria during the 1940’s. She was the 10th child in a family that came to number 14 children, of which 7 were boys and 7 were girls. In 1909 her parents immigrated from the US to Canada. In 1928 her parents homesteaded along the Fraser River across from McAllister, later moving to Prince George.
Eleanor was proud that she was one of 7 of her siblings who enlisted for military service during the Second World War. She served as a WAC from 1942 to 1944. In the late 1940’s, her and her husband Henry established one of the first chain saw sales & repair businesses at Courtenay, BC.
She is predeceased by her husband Henry Bill, her parents, and 12 siblings, Hattie Dunbar, Hazel Cameron, Carrie Pecjeck, Benjamin, Rufus, Alva, David , Harry, Albert, and Gordon Wilson, Olive Solmonson, and Jean Bart. She is survived by her sister Phyllis Pylatiuk, 4 children, Henry, also known as Sonny, (Barb) Bill, Raymond Mickey Bill, Sherry Carpenter (Brian Mogensen), and Sandra (Ben) Zayachkowski, grandchildren Bryce Carpenter, Shamus, Riley, and Whitney Reynolds, and 4 great grandchildren. She is also survived by nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.
A service will be held February 9, 2013 at 1pm upstairs at the Legion.