Bill L. Routledge of Tidnish Bridge, NS, 82, passed away at Cumberland Regional Hospital on November 15, 2021.
Born in Amherst, he was the son of the late Francis "Slim" (in 1971) and Inza (Simmons) (in 1974) Routledge.
Bill’s main interest was always ‘Hockey’. As a teen he played on church and school teams and refereed Minor Hockey in Amherst. After joining the Armed Forces in 1962 Bill also started coaching Pee Wee House League teams in Oromocto and later in Amherst for a total of 32 dedicated years.
While in the Armed Forces Bill was posted to Germany in 1969 and for the next 4 years, he and his family decided to take advantage of the opportunity and travel, visiting a total of 10 countries. While in Germany he coached house league hockey and was the Assistant Coach for a ‘Canadian Forces Pee Wee Rep’ team that played in an international hockey tournament in Holland. Three of the four years he was in Germany he refereed Women’s Hockey & Broomball as well.
In 1979 Bill and Norma moved home to Amherst with their girls and Bill began working at National Speciality, where he’d worked part-time during his high school years, and for another 15-year career prior to his retirement. While residing at Jacksons Point in the early eighties Bill and Norma volunteered as leaders with the Tidnish 4-H Club.
In 1982 Bill was presented with the ‘House League Coach of the Year’ and in 1984 he was presented with the ‘Volunteer of the Year Award’ at the Amherst Sports Awards Dinner – special guests were Don Cherry and Denis Hall.
Bill and Norma were also Cumberland County reps for the Children’s Wish Foundation for many years. Bill was in charge of registration for 5 Amherst High School reunions and also volunteered at many ‘Relay for Life’ events. Normally, at this time of year Bill would often be seen with his Santa hat on and his ‘talking Santa’ attending to a Salvation army Kettle at one of the many local stores.
As well as being a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend, community member Bill was also a devoted animal lover to Bentley, his cat and Lola his grand-dog.
He is survived by his wife Norma (Blenkhorn) of 59 years, two daughters, Gayle (Mark) MacKenzie of Amherst NS, Kim (Henry) Ripley of Truemanville, NS; five grandsons, Andrew, Justin (Jessica), Matthew, Scott (Amanda) and Corey, plus one great grandson Skyler, brother Don (Verna) of Tidnish Bridge, NS, sister-in-law Isabel of New Glasgow NS, brother-in-law Keith (June) Blenkhorn of Amherst, NS, along with several nieces and nephews.
Besides Bill’s parents he was predeceased by his brother-in-law Scott (in 1974), mother-in-law Hilda (in 1982), father-in-law Russell (in 1990), brother Jack (in 2012), sister-in-law Shirley (in 2014), and brother George (in 2016).
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Jones Family Funeral Centre, 70 Church St., Amherst, NS, (902 667 8777). Following Bill’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Public visiting will be held from Jones Family Funeral Centre on Saturday November 20 from 1 to 3 PM. Wearing a mask, proof of double vacation and government ID is required to attend the visitation. A private family burial will follow at the Fenwick Cemetery with Rev. Byron Corkum officiating.
In lieu of floral tributes, memorial contributions can made in Bill’s memory to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Children’s Wish Foundation.
Sharing of memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting Bill's online memorial at www.jonesfamilyfuneralcentre.ca or through the Jones Family Funeral Centre Facebook Page.