Keith WILSON

WILSON, Keith Evan March 4, 1936 - March 17, 2013 With sadness, we announce the passing of a loving husband and devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Keith Wilson of Parksville, in Nanaimo, BC. Keith succumbed to his battle with cancer on March 17, 2013 at the Nanaimo Palliative Care Unit. Keith is survived by his devoted wife, Dorothy (Dody, nee Stofer), his three children: Ken Wilson (Port Alberni), Susan Rivet (Mark) of Victoria, Cheryl Williams (Surrey), son-in-law Richard Williams (Port Alberni), and five grandchildren: Michele Bennett (Ronnie) of Calgary, Amanda Wiley (Colin) of Calgary, Clayton Rivet (Stephanie) of Sooke, and Zachary Williams (Jean) and Kalayla Williams, both of Port Alberni, and four great-grandchildren: Elise Rivet, Kaleigh Bennett, Grace and Nicoli Williams. He will also be missed by his stepson David Campbell (Nicole) and children Levi and Dylan and all Dody's family. Also survived by his sisters Diana (Allan) Mercer of Victoria, Sharron (Ken) Child of Prince George and brother Jim (Linda) Wilson of Sidney, and six nieces and nephews. Keith was pre-deceased by his first wife and mother of his children, Ann (nee Williamson), his parents Dave and Vera Wilson, his brother Stan and sister-in-law Maureen Wilson. From his beginning as a delivery boy, Keith eventually became a full-time employee at the Victoria Times and served as Circulation Manager until his retirement at age 48. Keith was a licensed locksmith and operated A&K Locksmiths, a home-based business in Victoria. He began a passion for motorbikes which escalated to motorcycles, particularly a Honda Goldwing, on which he and Dody (and sometimes just the boys) enjoyed travelling and exploring the Island, the mainland, the western Provinces and the northwestern States. Keith was a Master of Small Coastal Craft. With the Ganges I, a 65 foot ex-RCMP patrol boat, he and Dody chartered diving tours, hosted weddings and at times, when on contract to government captained forestry crews on surveys along the west coast. At times, he also served as a contract skipper for excursion charters from Port Hardy to Haida Gwai. Keith was a self-taught carpenter and enjoyed doing many renovation projects for residents in Parksville and Qualicum. He enjoyed sports, particularly hockey and laced up with the Parksville Golden Oldies Sports Association. One year he was traded to a California team competing in an International Old Timer's Tournament in Victoria. He won a couple of Comeback Awards following quintuple bypass surgery in 2006 and major cancer surgery in 2010. He was a strong competitor and fought hard against many odds. Keith was valued as a loyal friend to many, who was always ready to listen or go out of his way to help others. No service by request. An informal reception to be held, on May 27th, 2-4 pm. at Quality Inn, Parksville.