William James (Sam) Parker
William passed away at Oak Bay Lodge in Victoria March 5, 2016 at the age of 96. Born 29th of January 1920 to Ethel and Joseph Parker in Ulverston England. Sam attended the Old Victoria Grammer and Technical School. His early boyhood was devoted to the Boy Scout Movement where he had the honour of becoming a King’s Scout. In 1937 he was one of 50 Scouts chosen to represent the U.K. at the American “Coming of Age” Jamboree in Washington D.C. At the outbreak of WW2 Sam joined the Royal Engineers, after two years he was commissioned into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers where he was promoted to Captain and Instructor at the 48th Divisional Battle School. At the end of hostilities Sam joined the administrative staff of the first Army College. On discharge from the Army he returned to the paid staff of the Boy Scout Movement as Warden of Great Tower training center at Windemere. In 1951, along with his young family, Sam emigrated to Canada and started his new life in B.C. as a social worker with the Provincial Government in the field of corrections at the Boys Industrial School in Brannon Lake, Nanaimo and later as the Director of the New Denver Youth Center. After retiring, Sam was an active volunteer in the community of Sidney. Sam was an avid gardener and fly fisherman throughout his life.
Pre-deceased by his loving wife Fiona and his brother Harry, Sam is survived by his three children, Joyce, Pamela and Michael, 7 grand children and 10 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army.
Memorial Service will be held Thursday April 14, 2016 at 2:00 pm at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Sidney B.C.