William (Bill) Fred Cousins passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 11, 2006.
Bill was born on February 8, 1936 in Vancouver, B.C.
He grew up in Burnaby, B.C. and graduated from Burnaby South High School. He went to UBC beginning in civil engineering for a couple of years before transferring into education and receiving his Bachelor of Education degree when he graduated.
He worked a number of jobs throughout his school years. They included delivering newspapers, car hop for a restaurant, working in a cannery, working in a door factory, working at Woodwards in shipping land surveyor, working as a beekeeper (after writing the Bee Master exam), and working in a pulp mill. He also played a lot of sports such as basketball and floorhockey and was an avid sports fan of most games.
In 1961, Bill married Sharon, whom he had met through a mutal friend who carpooled to UBC with her. He joined the car pool. Bill taught for the Surrey School District at A.H.P. Mathew elementary and at Semiahmoo secondary. In 1962 he and Sharon moved to Williams Lake and both their children were born here.
Bill taught school for 35 years at Glendale, Marie Sharpe, Crescent Heights elementary schools and many years at Poplar Glade elementary before he retired in 1995. After retiring, he enjoyed travelling and visiting family and friends.
In 2000, he and Sharon travelled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for their son Michael’s wedding. Before retirement, Bill enjoyed coaching youth teams and was an active member of the community, helping with the B.C. Northern Winter Games in 1980 and 1995. He volunteered most recently with Speedwatch.
He loved to play bridge and was active in the local bridge club. He was always willing to play with novice players. He was a Life Master in the ACBL. Other interests included gardening, fishing, and building. He built a cabin at Timothy Lake, mostly with hand tools and help from relatives and friends (there was no electricity when most of the cabin was built). He was a gracious host, always inviting visitors to return for another visit. At Timothy Lake, he was able to pursue his interest in swimming and other watersports. Every year, he waterskied a loop on the lake to show he could still do it and was always up to going tubing with the grandchildren. He always had “projects’ he was working on, whether it was digging out a basement with a shovel by himself (mostly) to build a very large woodshed and then proceeding to fill it to the roof! Bill was an active member of the Timothy Lake Road Association.
Bill enjoyed doing puzzles and mathematical problem puzzles. He spent many hours playing games with his children and grandchildren, instilling in them a love of games as well, especially card games. A visit to the cabin always meant lots of time spent playing all kinds of games. He was always interested in his children and grandchildren’s activities and offered lots of encouragement. Once he retired, Bill also became an avid reader and picked up “bargains” on books on his and Sharon’s yearly month-long visits to Palm Springs.
Bill will always be remembered and sadly missed by his family and many friends. Predeceased by his parents Lyle Cousins and Lily Browne and sister Lorraine and brother-in-law George Salahub, Bill is survived by his wife of almost 45 years, Sharon, daughter Linda (Allan) Cruickshank; son Michael (Myrthes), grandchildren Chantal and Brent Cruickshank, and Andrew Cousins, brother Donald (Elaine) Cousins, sisters Loretta (Doug) Green, and Lila (Glen) Rupert; brother-in-law Jim (Katie) Chilton; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at the Overlander Convention Centre in Williams Lake, B.C. on Saturday, March 18, 2006 with Reverand Jenny Carter of St. Andrew’s United Church officiating. Approximately 140 people attended.
Bill was a caring and generous husband, dad, and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. His grandchildren are already asking “Who will take me fishing?”