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BORN
1940
DIED
2021
Bill Harkley Obituary
Captain William (Bill) Harkley passed away, peacefully, on his own terms at his home on Salt Spring Friday, February 26, 2021. He is survived by his wife, Janice; his son, Graham (Sharon) Harkley; his daughter, Laureen Hooker; his son-in-law, Ross Hooker; his stepson, Pete (Jamie) Shpak; five grandchildren, Nick, Jenna, Grace, Evan, and Kennedy; his sister, Cathy (Les) Bayer; and the mother of his children, Marilyn Harkley.
Bill was born in Vancouver on August 31, 1940. Flying was his career and his life. He started flying in the bush in Northern Ontario and was eventually hired by Pacific Western Airlines on May 1, 1969. He flew on all continents, except for Antarctica. On March 27, 1980, Bill confirmed to YVR control that Mt. Saint Helens had, indeed, erupted as the plane he was flying was right there. By the time Bill retired fully from the airlines in 2010, he had flown through the mergers of Pacific Western Airlines, Canadian Pacific Airlines, Wardair Canada, and Air Canada. He never thought of flying as work, it was such a joy for him to fly, to experience the world, and to spend time with his airline crews.
Bill was always and forever an adventurer...from sailing to Hawaii on an 8-meter sailboat with Charlie and Margo White ( Charlies Chart's), to cycling from Vancouver to San Francisco in 10 days, to circumnavigating Vancouver Island on his 22 foot NonSuch solo in at age 68, to riding motorcycles with his dear friend Steve Knight over the Altas Mountains into the Sahara at age 70. This amazing man never stopped exploring and continuously inspires those who knew him to do the same.
Bill and Janice were married in 1991. Together they created three businesses, River Run Cottages in Ladner, Salt Spring Winery on Salt Spring and Salt Spring Mercantile on Salt Spring. You can tell that Bill never sat still, we called him the "Energizer Bunny". To be diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy made collective sense of the many symptoms he had experienced over the past several years. It is rare and untreatable. He spent his last months in Ladner, watching the river run.
Bill was a man filled with gratitude and kindness, a loving husband, father and grandfather. A celebration of his life will be held this summer, pandemic permitting, on the docks of his son's home in Ladner.
Our special thanks to the medical community on Salt Spring that was so caring. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to a charity of your choice in Bill's memory would be lovely.
Bill was born in Vancouver on August 31, 1940. Flying was his career and his life. He started flying in the bush in Northern Ontario and was eventually hired by Pacific Western Airlines on May 1, 1969. He flew on all continents, except for Antarctica. On March 27, 1980, Bill confirmed to YVR control that Mt. Saint Helens had, indeed, erupted as the plane he was flying was right there. By the time Bill retired fully from the airlines in 2010, he had flown through the mergers of Pacific Western Airlines, Canadian Pacific Airlines, Wardair Canada, and Air Canada. He never thought of flying as work, it was such a joy for him to fly, to experience the world, and to spend time with his airline crews.
Bill was always and forever an adventurer...from sailing to Hawaii on an 8-meter sailboat with Charlie and Margo White ( Charlies Chart's), to cycling from Vancouver to San Francisco in 10 days, to circumnavigating Vancouver Island on his 22 foot NonSuch solo in at age 68, to riding motorcycles with his dear friend Steve Knight over the Altas Mountains into the Sahara at age 70. This amazing man never stopped exploring and continuously inspires those who knew him to do the same.
Bill and Janice were married in 1991. Together they created three businesses, River Run Cottages in Ladner, Salt Spring Winery on Salt Spring and Salt Spring Mercantile on Salt Spring. You can tell that Bill never sat still, we called him the "Energizer Bunny". To be diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy made collective sense of the many symptoms he had experienced over the past several years. It is rare and untreatable. He spent his last months in Ladner, watching the river run.
Bill was a man filled with gratitude and kindness, a loving husband, father and grandfather. A celebration of his life will be held this summer, pandemic permitting, on the docks of his son's home in Ladner.
Our special thanks to the medical community on Salt Spring that was so caring. In lieu of flowers, a contribution to a charity of your choice in Bill's memory would be lovely.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Delta Optimist from Mar. 4 to Apr. 3, 2021.
Memories and Condolences
for Bill Harkley
1 Entry
Lawrence Harris
April 24, 2021
Dear Bill's family. I first met Bill in Powell River and went for many rides with him. I was with PWA there and Bill even attended my wedding in June 1969. Bill and I looked for each other especially during the 1990's when I was working at YVR.
Sorry to hear of Bill's passing...he was one of a kind.
RIP Bill.............Larry Harris
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