Bill Croll
Sept 15, 1925 – Oct 10, 2016

On Monday October 10, Bill Croll passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, in Mission British Columbia. He was born on September 15, 1925 in Montreal.

Like many Canadian boys, Bill entered the Second World War at a very young age, turning 15 on a troop ship heading to Europe.

For six years Bill served his country and his battalion, the Scottish Essex, fighting throughout Europe including the liberation of Holland. Upon his return home six years later, he was decorated for his courage and commitment.

Once during a Remembrance Day Event (he attended all of them), he was asked by a reporter what he missed the most while away at war. Without missing a beat he responded,” I never had a good meal for six years, not one.”

Bill became an excellent cook and up to his last days one of his most enjoyable activities was to sit down to a good meal that he shared with family and friends.

He spent most of his life working for the Canadian National Railway, starting as a painter and over the course of his 35-year career worked his way up to engineer, a job he held and loved for more than 25 years. During that time he was active in his union and fought for the safety of railway workers.

Bill also loved sports and talked fondly of both playing and following baseball and hockey closely from an early age. A Montreal Royal fan who attended many games, he recounts how proud he was when he was able to witness the first time Jackie Robinson played for the team. Robinson went on to break the colour barrier in the National Baseball League.

But hockey was also his love. As a young boy Bill approached strangers lining up to get into the Forum to watch Les Canadiens, asking them to pretend he was their son which allowed him into the game without at ticket. He would later become friends with many of the Canadiens’ players.

Bill married the love of his life Joan Christina Victoria Thomson in 1957 and for the next 56 years they shared their lives together until Joan’s death in 2013. They lived in Montreal where Susan and Tommy were born until moving to Burnaby in 1972. As a locomotive engineer one of Bill’s favourite trips was driving the VIA Rail train from Vancouver to Boston Bar.

After retirement Joan and Bill enjoyed travelling south for the winter, making many friends during their stays.
They lived in Burnaby until 2005 when they moved to Mission.

He is survived by his children, Susan (Jim), Tom (Donna) and grandchildren (Lee, Nathan, Tyler and Tyson) who will miss him deeply.

The family wants to thank the staff at the Mission Memorial Hospital for providing excellent care and support to Bill over many years. We also want to thank the Mission Home Health staff who also made it possible for Bill to enjoy his remaining years at the Cedarbrook Retirement Residence

A memorial service will be held on Friday October 28 at 10:00 am at the Burquitlam Funeral Home, 625 North Road, Burnaby. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Terry Fox Foundation are greatly appreciated.