We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant William Earl "Bill" St. John, CD (Ret’d), peacefully on the morning of 6 May 2019 in Heron Grove Care Home, Vernon, BC.
Bill was a veteran of the Second World War who had enlisted in the Army in 1942. He joined the post-war Permanent Force with the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1946 and was eventually posted to Camp Borden with the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade that had been formed for the Korean War. On a winter trial, he was sent to Kapuskasing, ON where he met his soon-to-be wife and married in the spring of 1953. Six months later he was sent to Korea with 59th Independent Field Squadron as part of the peacekeeping mission. Upon his return to Canada in 1954 Bill continued his military career with postings at Camp Borden, ON. Gagetown, NB, Werl Germany for three years and then to CFB Chilliwack where he retired in 1970.
After retirement, Bill moved to Chilliwack and returned to the Base as a civil employee with Base Maintenance in the Sand Blasting/ Paint Shop. He finally retired in 1989 to enjoy time puttering in their large garden and volunteering with the Boy Scouts. After the passing of his wife Elsie in 2006, he volunteered at the Chilliwack Military Museum and enjoyed his time there up until his move to Vernon in 2012.
By request, there will be no funeral service but his ashes will be placed next to his wife at Little Mountain Cemetery in Chilliwack.
