WILMER PRITCHARD

PRITCHARD, Dr. Wilmer John
"Bill" (DDS)
Passed away peacefully on Monday, April 7, 2014 at Leamington District Memorial Hospital. Born April 3, 1926 on a dairy farm in Palmerston, ON. Son of Myrtle and James Pritchard. Beloved husband of Nancy (Gray) for 64 years. Dear father of Jane Pritchard, Dr. Sandy Pritchard, Brenda Pritchard (Bob McKeen), all of Toronto. Beloved Papa to Kate Southwell (Andrew), Logan, Hunter, Madison and Baylie Pritchard, Jesse and Taylor Foden. Special Papa to Rita. Predeceased by a brother Ken. Many nieces and nephews also survive. Bill attended school in Palmerston, from which he graduated as Valedictorian in 1944. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1944. When WWII ended in 1945, he started studies at University of Toronto School of Dentistry. Soon after he met Nancy, a student nurse, the love of his life and mother of his three children. Following graduation he married Nancy and moved to Leamington to practice family dentistry until his retirement 40 years later. He was past president of the Leamington Kinsmen Club, Essex County Dental Association and Sun Parlour Curling Club. In 1962 he and his good friend Dr. Murray O'Neil, a couple of flying farm boys, founded Highline Mushroom Farm. Dentistry was his profession but flying was his passion. He owned and flew many different aircraft over a period of 52 years. Music played a large part in Bill's life, from competing as a child in Stratford Music Festival to playing trumpet at High School, then Varsity Band and travel with the Helen Law Singers to Wales. He was also the director of the popular Lancaster Band for over 30 years. Finally, he played "Taps" each evening at sundown while vacationing in Florida. Bill fought the good fight but could not overcome the devastation of myelodysplasia. Visiting at the
Reid Funeral Home & Reception Centre,
14 Russell Street, Leamington
on Friday, 2 - 5 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. Funeral Service to celebrate Bill's life, from the Leamington United Church, 9 John Street Leamington on Saturday April 12, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Paul Rodey officiating. Interment Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. The Pritchard family will be forever grateful to Dr. Tawil and Dr. Gonzalez for their compassionate care and to the staff at Leamington Hospital, especially the Emergency Department, the nurses on 2nd Floor and the girls in Outpatient Department in charge of transfusions for their care and kindness. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made by cheque to Leamington Hospital Foundation (Hospice). Friends may send condolences or make a charitable contribution online at
www.reidfuneralhome.ca.