William Muir Graham

Dr. William Muir Graham, born in Wainwright, Alberta, June 30th, 1929, died August 3, 2017 in Kelowna, British Columbia, aged 88. He was the son of Paul and Mildred (Maxwell) Graham and the youngest of four children; his three sisters predeceased him. Bill studied biology at the University of Alberta (Edmonton), the University of British Columbia (Vancouver), and the University of London (England), and was granted his Ph.D. in 1964 at St. Andrews University in Dundee, Scotland. Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Margaret (née Barclay) Graham. They were married in Calgary Alberta in May 1955. They lived in Canada, Kenya, England, and Scotland and in their retirement travelled widely, covering most of the world. Bill is also survived by his three children, Janice, Douglas (France Marcoux) and Karen (Rick Durand) and five beloved grandchildren: Carl, Roslyn, Ruskin, Camille (José Barrios), and Stéphanie, as well many other extended family members and friends. He was a proud and devoted family man. Bill was a biologist, specializing in entomology. At the beginning of his career, he worked as a research scientist in Kenya on the behaviour and control of stored products pests, such as beetles and moths. He later taught biology at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He loved teaching - he taught us all, his children, his grandchildren, and his students. His teaching goal was to inspire questioning and individual thinking. He was committed to learning and science, worshipped knowledge and facts, and was a gifted poet, essayist, and original thinker on countless topics.

Bill wished to be remembered by a poem of his favorite poet, Robbie Burns "Epitaph on my own friend and my father's friend, Wm. Muir in Tarbolton Mill”:

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com. Arrangements entrusted with First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, BC 250-762-2299

An honest man

here lies at rest,

As e'er God

with his image blest;

The friend of man,

the friend of truth,

The friend of age,

and guide of youth:

Few hearts like his,

with virtue warm'd,

Few heads with knowledge

so informed:

If there's another world,

he lives in bliss;

If there is none,

he made the best of this.