William (Bill) Edward Gillespie
May 27, 1926 - June 27, 2020

With deep sorrow and much love we announce the passing of William Edward Gillespie (Bill), on June 27, 2020, at the age of 94 years.

Bill is survived by his four children; Ted Gillespie (Louise), Patty Buttar (Ross), Micky Kusler (Darcy), and Brian Gillespie (Paulette), as well as eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild (and a second on the way). He was pre-deceased by his wife of 68 years, Muriel, and his sisters Joan and Florence.

Bill was born in Dunmanway, County Cork, Ireland. His father passed away shortly before he was born; so in 1928, his mother,Lilian, Bill, and his sisters, immigrated to Viking, Alberta, where Lilian's sister (Bill's aunt) Kathleen and husband, Noble Graham, ran a hardware store and fuel station. Bill grew up in Viking, and was always interested in model airplanes and motorcycles.

The family moved to Edmonton in the 1940's after Bill's Uncle Noble passed away. Bill attended the University of Alberta and graduated in 1950 with a BSc in Civil Engineering. It was while at university that Bill met and courted a young lady, Muriel Moyra Gillespie. They were married in 1951 and remained together until her passing in January 2020.

Bill had brief careers in the refrigeration industry, and then as a highway engineer/surveyor, before joining the City of Edmonton Transportation Department. Bill was very well respected throughout the province as a Roadway Design Engineer, and rose to the position of Manager of Transportation and Engineering for the City of Edmonton.

Bill became interested in Radio Control Airplanes in 1967 and it became his primary passion for the remainder of his life. He was one of the premier builders and flyers of Radio Controlled aircraft modellers in Western Canada and the Western United States. Of the more than 50 airplanes that he constructed, his favourite by far was his Tiger Moth. Bill and his Tiger Moth literally won or placed in almost every contest that they entered in Western Canada. Bill's crowning achievement, however, was winning the "Best of Military Aircraft" award at the Quarter Scale Association of America in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was an international event, and Bill was the only Canadian to ever win the event - and he won it two years in a row with his scratch built Curtis A-12 Shrike Aircraft. Muriel and Bill spent many years travelling Western Canada and the Western States to attend Scale, Pattern and Sailplane contests. Bill was active in the Edmonton Radio Control Society, the Camrose Modelling Society, and was a founding member of the St. Albert Aero Model Society.

Bill also remained passionate about motorcycles, riding his Suzuki Boulevard into his 80's. Bill and Muriel enjoyed golfing together, and of course Muriel accompanied Bill to all of his RC contests. Bill will be remembered for his expertise as both a modeller, and as a Professional Engineer.

A memorial service was held at the Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home in St. Albert, Alberta on Sunday, July 12, 2020, at 2:00 pm. Due to the COVID 19 restrictions, attendance at the funeral was liimited to immediate family and a few of Bill's friends.  

In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made in Bill's name to the Parkinson Association of Alberta, or to the Edmonton Hope Mission.

The family wish to send special thanks to the staff at the Youville Long Term Care facility in St. Albert, for the care and compassion they showed Bill during his last days.