William Arthur EMERY

May 14, 1939 - July 10, 2025

William (Bill) Arthur Emery (Major RCA) of Esquimalt, BC, aged 86, went to his Father on July 10, 2025. He will be deeply missed by his family and community, to which he gave his lifelong love and devotion.
Bill was born on Mother's Day Sunday, May 14, 1939 to Samuel Arthur Emery and Zeno Marjorie (Coldwell) Emery at St. Joseph's Hospital, Victoria, to the delight of 8 year old sister Zeno Anne. They brought him home to the corner of Alderberry and Old Esquimalt Road, where the Emery family had settled in 1902. He attended Lampson Street School and Esquimalt High School.
Following Cadet and Reserve service in the Canadian Scottish, Bill joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1957 through the Regular Officer Training Plan. He graduated from Victoria College, University of British Columbia, in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts in Science and was posted to RCHA Gagetown (Oromocto) NB. The following year, he returned home to marry Marilyn Alice Nute, on August 18th, 1962 in the church he grew up in, Victoria West United Church. Marilyn joined Bill in New Brunswick where they welcomed sons William Alan (1963) and Robert Edward (1965). Postings followed across Canada, the United States and with the UN in India, Pakistan and Egypt. The family was tragically marked by the devastating loss of their two girls, infant Anne Marie in 1969 and three year old Melanie Anne in 1973 after a long illness.
Bill and Marilyn celebrated a homecoming in 1980 when he took his last posting at CFB Naden, Esquimalt, where he completed his military service in 1986. He then qualified as a stock broker, but did not find this fulfilling. Instead, he dedicated himself to serving many community organizations, which he continued right up until his passing. He and Marilyn were active members of Esquimalt United Church from 1980 onwards. The countless hours he devoted to volunteer service after retirement simply cannot be summed up here.
He loved long walks by the ocean, books on military history, and family time camping at Port Renfrew. In earlier years he enjoyed scuba diving, and in later years became quite an accomplished chef. He especially cherished being "Grandpa Bill".
Bill is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marilyn, sons Alan (Christine) and Robert (Janet), his beloved grandchildren: Jennifer, Timothy, Simone, and Sean; and his treasured great-grandchildren: Isaac, Hannah, Nathan, William, Hunter and Annika; and niece Brenda. He was predeceased by his two daughters, parents and sister.
In lieu of flowers, donations or volunteer service may be given "in memory of Bill Emery" to Esquimalt United Church, (Esquimalt) Lions Club, the Rainbow Kitchen, Friends of the Buccaneers, or other organization for whom Bill served. Messages for the family may be conveyed on First Memorial Funeral Services website and or email to waemery@telus.net.
The family has chosen to have a private funeral for immediate family and close friends.