William "Bill" Robert Sturrock

William Robert Sturrock arrived in Victoria, BC on May 25, 1934. He was the first child born to Edwin George Sturrock of Duncan, BC and Annie Margaret Kerr of Regina, Saskatchewan.

Bill was named after his grandfather, William Augustus Sturrock. The original Sturrock clan emigrated from Scotland and settled in Wellsborough, PA. A distant great-uncle fought for the Union Army in the American Civil War.

The elder William made his way to the west coast and was married in Port Townsend. William and his wife moved to Duncan, BC for work. He fought as a Canadian in WWI in artillery.

Bill’s sister, Carol, was added to the family in 1937. Bill’s father joined the Victoria Police Department in 1935, serving as a patrol officer, until 1940 when he opted for National Service joining the Canadian Provost Corps. He rode a motorcycle as a mail carrier between Nanaimo and Victoria. He was tragically killed on his motorcycle, while on duty on May 30, 1943. Bill was 10 years old. His mother was pregnant with Bill’s younger brother, Andy, who was born later that year. Edwin Sturrock was added to the Roll of Honour at the 2023 Annual British Columbia Law Enforcement Memorial. His name is engraved on the monument. Bill was so proud of his father.

Bill was sent to live with his grandparents in Port Townsend for a year after his father’s death. In time, Bill’s mother, Annie married Art Barry, who had a son and daughter of his own.

Bill graduated as Valedictorian from Victoria High School in 1952. Bill went on to attend the University of British Columbia where he got his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering. He married and had five children: Gordon, Heather, Brenda, Don and Bill.

Bill moved the family to Seattle where he took a job with Boeing as an aerospace engineer. The family moved again to Southern California where Bill continued his career in aerospace at Northrup-Gruman. Around 1980, Bill took an opportunity to move back to Victoria and work for the Department of Research Establishment Pacific (DREP) with the Canadian government.

Bill and Nancy met while he was living in California. They were married on Valentine’s Day in 1987 and were married for 34 years before Nancy passed away in 2021.

Bill continued his engineering career in Victoria. His last job was working as a consultant for entrepreneur start-up businesses at Camosun College.

Bill was physically active and enjoyed seasons of jogging and bicycling. In later years, he and Nancy did a lot of walking, especially with their dogs, through parks, trails and the neighborhood.

After retirement, Bill pursued photography and became a semi-professional. He focused primarily on landscapes, nature and boats. He also volunteered to take pictures at local theatres and for church events. He published a number of pictures in the Times-Colonist. He was also a model boat builder and a member of the model boat club. Through Nancy’s love of gardening, Bill developed his own love of Japanese gardens and tried his hand at bonsai. In more recent years, Bill became an honorary member of the Victoria Air Crew Association, even though he never served in the military.

Bill loved music, especially bagpipes. He also loved classical music. Bill knew how to play the drums. For a time, he was a drummer in the Victoria Community Band. He loved puns and last, but not least, he truly enjoyed a single malt scotch.

Bill and Nancy enjoyed significant travel experiences, both for work and in their retirement years. They visited England and Scotland, Australia and Hawaii. They took a cruise down the Amazon River in 2002. They went on Grayline tours to destination locations in Canada. And they traveled often to the States to visit family.

Bill was fascinated with science and viewed life and the world through that lens. It was through science and his eventual acceptance of intelligent design that he came to faith in God.

Bill was a good and caring father, husband and friend. He was easy going, friendly, and hospitable. He had a good listening ear and offered wise advice and counsel. He served as a mentor to friends and colleagues in whatever circle he was in.

After Nancy passed, Bill moved first to Trillium Seniors Village and then to Parkwood Place where he spent his final years. The residents at Parkwood place remember Bill as the man who sat by the fireplace, waving and greeting them with his warm smile. He was also noted for voicing his strong opinions. After living a long and healthy life, he passed away at Royal Jubilee Hospital on May 31st following a brief illness.

Bill is survived by four of his children, his step-children, Diane Brown and Roy Miller, 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He is now with his Lord and Savior, his father, mother, daughter, Brenda, wife, Nancy and other loved ones who have gone on before.

William Robert “Bill” Sturrock was born in Victoria on May 25, 1934, the first of three children born to Edwin George Sturrock and Annie Margaret Kerr. Edwin was tragically killed while on duty with the Canadian Provost Corps when Bill was 10. Bill earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in engineering from University of British Columbia. He married and had five children: Gordon, Heather, Brenda, Don and Bill. His aerospace engineering career took him and the family to Boeing in Seattle, Northrup-Gruman in Los Angeles then back to Victoria where he lived for the rest of his life. He married Nancy Brunner Miller in 1987. Together they enjoyed traveling and gardening. Bill’s other interests included photography, model boat building, and bagpipe music. After living a long and healthy life, he passed away at Royal Jubilee Hospital on May 31st following a brief illness. Bill is survived by four of his children, his step-children, Diane Brown and Roy Miller, 10 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy and his daughter, Brenda.

A memorial service will be held at Gordon United Church in Langford on July 26th at 2:00 PM.