William Edmund Bryan

Bill was born March 17, 1940 at Vancouver General Hospital to Edmund Bernard Bryan and Vera Florence Bryan (nee Marshall). He passed away at Royal Columbian Hospital August 23, 2023, age 83, after a brief illness.

Predeceased by his wife (separated) Darlene, son Dallas, sister Sylvia, brother Bob, parents Vera and Ed Bryan, grandparents Drusilla Bryan of Birmingham, England, William Bernard Legg of Larne, North Ireland, Elizabeth Breaker of Brigus, NFLD and William Marshall of Bay Roberts Newfoundland.

Survived by his sisters Ann (Gary) and Merle. Nieces and nephews; Geoff (Nerissa), Cindy (Timothy), Nora, Deb (Norm), Kevin (Vanessa) and Christine. Numerous other extended family and dear friends.

Born in Vancouver, his younger years were spent in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver. His father passed away when he was 7. He and his siblings had a tough life when they were young. Bill eventually ended up in New Westminster as a teenager. He left Burnaby South High School and applied to the Military with his friends. Unfortunately, he was refused as he was too young to join, as a consequence he got into some mischief.

In 1962, working in the shoe industry in Calgary he met his future wife, Darlene. He moved to Toronto where he learned the shoe trade and got his diploma from the Footwear Institute of Canada. In Toronto he worked at Nowak Shoes while being mentored by his boss. He decided to move back to Alberta and marry Darlene Lundgren in 1966. They married in Innisfail and moved to Edmonton. After a few years in the shoe industry in Edmonton, they moved to Coquitlam where their son Dallas was born in 1972.

Always interested in the history of small rural towns and the gold rush, especially in British Columbia and Alberta, he started up his own Book distribution Company called Western Heritage Supply. This company was successful for over a decade into the recession years of the early 1980s. Bill was an entrepreneur at heart always looking for the next company to build. He had a club in Guelph called Zooloos, a restaurant in Langley called Patsies Uptown Bistro, as well as numerous startup companies and sales jobs in Alberta, BC and Ontario.

Bill loved traveling. He went to Kenya and Australia in the late 70s; England, Ireland and Scotland researching his ancestry in the 80s, Vietnam and Hong Kong in 2000, as well as the Canary Islands, Spain, Italy and Germany. He was a member of the New West Legion for 40 years and a member of the Elks club. He was a prolific reader of history, politics, travel, political cartoons, Western Canadiana and healthy eating. He had an eclectic collection of wall art, clocks and funky hats. He also had a scuba driving ticket and coached a juvenile girls fastball team that won the city championships in the 1970s.

Bill will be remembered by his friends and family as a very caring, helpful soul with a great sense of humor. Always helping others out financially or driving people to their health appointments. Bill will be greatly missed.

In respect of Bill's wishes, there will be no official service, just a private family internment.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2-4 pm, Sunday October 15th, at Rivers Reach Pub Patio, 320 6th St, New Westminster for friends and family.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialnorthvancouver.com for the Bryan family.