Russell (Russ) Arthur Pilch, aged 81 years, of 1019 Moncton Avenue, Kamloops, B.C. passed away on the 30th day of March, 2013 at the Royal Inland Hospital.

He is survived by his friend and companion Eleanor Harten, four sons Brent, Bradley, Blake and Brett of Winnipeg, daughter Charlene (Marcel) Gareau of Vancouver, seven grandchildren Shawn, Ryan and Crystal of Calgary, Amber of Winnipeg, Danya and Katrina of Vancouver, Joshua of Winnipeg, great-grandchildren Seth of Calgary, Taylor and Sadie of Winnipeg and Jaxon of Vancouver, sister Lorraine Pilch of Cobourg, a nephew Donnie (Isobel) Hie of Gores Landing and four nieces Linda McAllister (John) of Cobourg, Donna Furtado, Bonnie Matheson of Toronto and Judy (Andy) Tantalo of Minesing.

Russ was born in Toronto, 7th of September 1931, the son of the late James Arthur Pilch of Toronto and Mary Edna (Sanders) Pilch of Los Angeles, California.

He attended school at Mill Valley and Cobourg Collegiate Institute. Russ left home at 13 to work on a farm, by 14 he was working at the Cobourg Matting Factory. He then became an apprentice printer at Cobourg's newspaper, the Cobourg Sentinel Star and also served with Cobourg's reserve unit, the 33rd Medium Regiment RCA. Although under the age limit, Russ enlisted in the artillery at Kingston in the Special Force for Korea, 11th of August 1950, one of the first to enlist from Cobourg and area.

He received training at Base Shilo, Manitoba and became a member of the 2nd Field Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. He continued training at Fort Lewis and Yakima, Washington after surviving the Canoe River, B.C. train wreck, 21st November 1950. Promoted to Bombardier before going overseas, he served in 1951-1952 with 2 RCHA, the first Canadian artillery regiment in action in Korea.

After returning to Canada, he served with Headquarters Company, Fort Churchill, 2 RCHA at Winnipeg and in Europe, Central Ontario Area Instructional Staff in Hamilton, 4 RCHA at Petawawa, Western Ontario Area Instructional Staff in London, 3 RCHA at Petawawa, Winnipeg and in Norway and Belgium, the School of Artillery, Shilo, and Base Headquarters in Winnipeg. Russ qualified on many courses taken at different military training establishments. On retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1972 as a Warrant Officer and a Chief Gunnery Assistant Group 4, he also had 18 other certificates of qualification, 1 of the highest number held by one individual. When he retired, he transferred as a Warrant Officer to the Canadian Forces Supplementary List and later to the Supplementary Holding Reserve. Russ also joined Canada Post Corporation in Winnipeg. He retired from CPC at Kamloops, B.C. in 1989.

Russ was honoured in 1993 by being the only artillery nominee chosen to represent the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at ceremonies in Japan and South Korea to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the cease-fire in Korea. He attended these ceremonies in October 1993 and was presented with the Ambassador of Peace Medal by the United Nations Korean War Allies Association, at the Canadian Ambassador's residence in Seoul.

Russ was a member of the Cobourg Garrison Artillery Association, the Korea Veterans Association and Royal Canadian Legion. He gladly donated time to assist the B.C. Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Kidney Foundation. He also continued to serve in the Supplementary Holding Reserve until 1995.

A private Celebration of Life will be held with family and friends in Kamloops on Saturday, April 6th, 2013.

Friends wishing to make donations in Russ' memory, may make them to the Salvation Army because of their dedication to those in need.

Do not stand by my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am a diamond glint on the snow,
I am sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush of
quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the soft star shine at night.
Do not stand by my grave and cry,
I am not there .... I did not die.