We Remember

BRITCH, William

Born in Vilka, Belarus in 1925, Bill Britch passed away peacefully on May 24, in Kelowna, BC. 

Bill arrived in Canada when he was three years old. He travelled from Belarus with his mother and older siblings to join his father, who had come to Canada beforehand to establish a home prior to the family’s arrival. The family developed a homestead at McMurphy, 18 miles north of Vavenby, BC.

Bill was a veteran of WWII.  Bill seldom spoke of his war years but loved to tell the story of the Queen Mother visiting in an English hospital where he was recovering from a shell hit. While stationed at Ede in the Netherlands, his regiment organized a dance.  In his search for a date for the dance, Bill met Carol, who struck him as a very attractive and intelligent young woman. They met in the spring of 1945 and then Bill shipped out to Germany in the fall of that year. In 1946, he returned home with his Dutch war bride, Carol.   

They established a home in Hope, BC where they lived for 7 years.  Bill and Carol raised their family in the Merritt area, where they lived for 14 years. Bill worked in the logging industry most of his life. He had a reputation as a hard-working, reliable, and experienced logger. When he was not working, he loved to hunt and fish. From Merritt, Bill moved to the Prince George area, where he worked as a logging supervisor for several large forestry companies. Bill and Carol retired in 1986 to Christina Lake, where they built their dream home. In 1994 they moved to Kelowna.

Bill is survived by his three children Cliff (Ginette), George (Barbara), and Margery Poittris; his 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild. He is also survived by siblings Rose Hrycan, Mary Mercer, George Britch, Nell Dyble, and Ann Dyble; and his very special friend and companion, Sheila Wilson. Sadly in 2011, he was predeceased by his wife Carol. 

An Interment Service will be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 3:30 pm, at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery, 1991 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, BC.  An informal memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 4:30 pm, at Springfield Funeral Home Family Centre, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. 

If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.

Service
TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2022, at 3:30 PM

Location
KELOWNA MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY

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