William “Bill” Budd Aldred Sr.

Bill William Budd Aldred Sr., resident of Grande Prairie, AB, passed away on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at the Grande Prairie Care Centre, at the age of 82 years.

Bill was born in the Grande Prairie Hospital on January 7, 1935 to Clifford Ezekiel and Ella Mae Aldred (nee Crozier), the 4^th child in a homestead family in Huallen, AB. Bill attended grade school at St. Johns Lutheran School south of Wembley. Raised in the depression and war years, Bill grew up quickly to become a hard worker who had many labour jobs in sawmills and construction projects around the area.

On October 11, 1957, Bill married Charlotte Gullion from Canyon Creek and they had just celebrated their 60^th anniversary. Bill and Charlotte settled in and around the Flying Shot Lake and Dimsdale community, where they raised 5 sons, before moving to Wembley in 1974.

Bill began working for Canfor at the Plywood Plant in 1964 and worked through to 1991, when he retired as a general foreman with health issues.

He loved to garden and his green thumb was the pride of Wembley for many years. Bill and Charlotte helped establish the Silver and Gold Seniors Center in Wembley, where Bill was the president for many years.

Bill always had a good story and a joke for his grandkids. He was loved and respected by his peers in Wembley. He loved curling, pool, gardening, hunting, fishing and camping.

In 2014, Bill and Charlotte moved to Wild Rose Manor, in Grande Prairie. He was recently residing at the Grande Prairie Care Centre.

Bill will be greatly missed by his wife, Charlotte, children: Bill Jr. (Bev), Raymond (Elaine), Cindy, Garth (Patsy), and James (Mary-Jo); grandchildren: Trevor, Tylor, Todd, Jenny, Raymond Jr., Catherine, Rueben, Kristin, Delly, Merranda, Bart Jr., Amos, Nathan, Joselyn, Erika, Ariel, James and Grace; brother Lorne (Olive) Aldred of Prince George, BC. Bill was blessed with 25 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, Clifford and Ella Mae; brothers Robert and Theodore; sister Doreen and brother in-law John Mayer. His son, Bart Thomas passed away in 2002.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 10:00am at Oliver’s Funeral Home in Grande Prairie (10005 107 Ave.). Lunch to follow at 11:30am. All are welcome to join the family at the Graveside service to follow at the Beaverlodge Cemetery.

In lieu of donations, Bill’s wishes were to pay it forward with kindness, charity to others, plant a tree, plant some flowers, help a neighbor and be kind.