Dr. William Ward Kendrick passed away peacefully on August 13th, 2013 in Victoria, B.C.
Bill was born on November 13th, 1924, in Toronto.
He earned a degree in Medicine from the University of Toronto in 1949, and a fellowship in Urology in 1956.
Dad met our mother Joan Macfarlane, an operating room nurse, while working in Regina. They married in 1958 and relocated to Victoria in 1962.
Bill’s medical practice can best be summed up by the parade of patients who would drop by every Christmas to bring him presents. Fixing urological problems always came with a steady mix of anecdotes, humor and advice that endeared him to patients and the medical community alike. Once, when asked why so many of his patients remembered him Bill replied, “you never forget the man who helps you pee again.”
Bill had a ‘retirement’ in 1994, but worked as a surgical assistant until he was 80 years old.
Bill was a veteran of WW2, serving with the RCAF as the flight engineer of a Lancaster bomber. He walked away from a plane crash during training.
When the war ended he entered medical school and promptly broke his neck playing football. After spending a year in a body cast, he resumed his studies.
As a father he was a welcome source of sage wisdom and quick wit. No conversation with Bill was complete without at least one joke woven into the narrative. Above all he was a gentle and generous man, sincerely amazed that he’d raised four children and not one of them had done prison time.
He was Mom’s best friend and they enjoyed 55 years of a happy marriage described by her as “never a dull moment”.
Bill’s favorite hours were spent salmon fishing, tending his roses, doing needlepoint, playing poker, writing emails to his children and grandchildren, and socializing with his longtime circle of friends.
Bill was pre-deceased by his parents William and Elizabeth (Bess) Kendrick of Ottawa and Victoria; first wife Mildred Hogan of Montreal and their infant.
Bill is survived by his wife Joan; four children, Kathleen (Dan Holte) and Victoria (Gary Bugeaud), of Calgary; Robert, of Columbus, OH; Michael (Eliza Coblentz), of Portland, OR. He is also survived by five granddaughters; Rachel, Zoe, Parkes, Rennie and Lucy; two step-grandsons Tyler and Chase; and former daughter-in-law Kealy Wilkinson of Victoria.
Many thanks and gratitude from the entire Kendrick family to those who provided care and support during Dad’s last year of life.
At Bill’s request, no funeral has been planned. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Victoria Hospice Foundation. www.victoriahospice.org. Condolences for the family may be offered below.
25 Responses
I am grateful to be aware that bill has died. We will miss his wonderful sense of humour. Our since sympathy. Margery and Jim low
Kendrick family,
We have fond memories of Bill and Joan as our neighbors, We will remember Bill always stopping by with a friendly smile and kind word. We really enjoyed his great sense of humour.
We were saddened to hear that Joan also passed away. We remember the hours that Joan spent in the garden making the front of your house look beautiful.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jeannette and family
Joan and family,
Saddened to hear of your loss. I am sure Bill remains busy up there keeping the place order, providing humour and making sure the place isn’t being run but a few people who don’t understand life and death. I (we) have many fond memories of Bill in and outside the work place.
Fondest regards Bill and Ellie
Dr. Kendrick was the greatest neighbor. My father bought our house because there were signs of a young family next door. Bill carried me home when I fell out of a tree when I was Five years old. When my dad was I’ll, your dad was a great comfort to our family. Bill and Joan would deliver regular care packages to my mom when she was ill twenty years later. We asked Bill to speak at my mom’s service and he made everyone at ease with his eloquent and humorous speech. “Doug, you know you’re old when your mom dies”. Bill was generous and honored Carly, our daughter, with a lovely gift and special note following her graduation from nursing school. I saw Bill a month ago and his eyes lit up when I told him that our renter at Paul’s Terrace is a resident at the Jubilee Hospital…”You must send her over for a visit”. We’ll miss your dad very much.
With deepest condolences,
The Bertram Family
FOND MEMORIES OF A TRULY CARING AND FUNNY MAN TO HJOAN AND THE FAMILY FROM CAROLE BOAG, VANCOUVER