In the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 12, 2011, William ìBillî Benz passed peacefully into the loving arms of the Lord after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Bill was born in Campbell River, B.C. on September 23, 1927 but spent most of his childhood in North Vancouver and Langley. As a young adult, he worked on a farm until he was hired to work on the Canadian Pacific steamships, tugboats, and then for Argovan Steamship Lines. He missed being crewed out on the MV Chelan, which was lost at sea. He was always very proud of the fact that he was part of the crew that brought the Princess of Nanaimo ferry from the U.K. through the Panama Canal to Vancouver. Bill started a custodial career in 1965 at Langley Memorial Hospital, and then eventually he moved to Kamloops where he joined the custodial staff at Royal Inland Hospital and worked there until retirement in April 1992. During this time, he also worked on the side delivering newspapers, bread, flowers, groceries, and pharmacy, as well as keeping track of several stores' shopping carts.

Bill did not know the meaning of the word "retirement", as he worked until 4 days before being diagnosed with cancer in March 2011, when his family forced him to retire for real. Bill joined the Independent Order of Oddfellows in Langley, Progress No. 81, in 1969 and transferred to Kamloops IOOF Tatnai Lodge No. 9 in 1993. He was also an active member of the Loyal Order of the Moose No. 1552.

Bill loved camping, playing outdoors, and chopping wood. He liked to go bowling, play billiards, and rollerskating. He could always be seen walking his dog - and was famous for walking to the airport and then calling home for a ride because "the dog was tired." Bill was an avid collector of many things, including classic Avon bottles and baseball caps.

Bill's faith in the Lord was very important to him, and he did his best to instill this in his children. He was an active and faithful member in the Christian community. Bill was introduced to the love of his life - Sandra - by the Matron at Langley Memorial Hospital. They were married on April 29th, 1968 in Lynden, Washington. They moved to Kamloops in December 1980 with their two children to raise them. Bill's kindness and generosity touched many lives in our community and he will be greatly missed.

Predeceased by the mother of his first five children, Lillian Delaney in August 2009, Bill is survived by his youngest brother Robert Benz (Donna) and their five children, Genelle, B.C.; his wife Sandra, and seven children: Debbie Darbyson (Terry), Randy Delaney, Terrie-Lynn Turner (Bryan), Kenneth Benz, Michael Benz, Jeffrey Benz (Gracie), and Andrea Fraser (Keith, deceased). He also had six grandchildren: TJ, Tony, Nathan, Matthew, Elizabeth, and Sarah; and three great-granddaughters: Courtney, Kyla, and Vrillanne.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 22nd at 3:30 p.m. at St. George's Anglican Church by Capt. The Rev. Isabel C. Healy-Morrow, with light refreshments afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice, as they were wonderful to us and made Bill's last days very peaceful and comfortable.

Thank you to Schoening Cremation Centre for their caring support in arranging Bill's final affairs.

Service arrangement entrusted to Schoening Cremation Centre, 8-177 Tranquille Road. Phone 250 554-2429.