WALTER HENRY ROULSTON

Walter Henry Roulston, who was born April 13, 1914 in Burriss, Ont. and who resided in Abbotsford, B.C. since 1978, passed away at the age of 87 on Sunday, July 1, 2001 with Ruby, his wife of 62 years, at his side.
Words cannot express the depth of personal loss and grief felt by those who knew and loved him.
Walter will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Ruby; daughter, Dianne Archer; and grandchildren, Alex and Erik Beinbridge of Pitt Meadows, B.C., Jeff and Jenness Roulston of Calgary, Alta., and Michael Roulston of Thunder Bay, Ont.
Also surviving are sisters, Gert Beadie of Kelowna, B.C., and Belle Coulson of Fort Frances, Ont.; and extended family members from Ontario to British Columbia.
He was predeceased by his son, Douglas; and brother, Frederick.
Walker was known as a man who always made people laugh, who expressed devoted unconditional love for his family, and a man who would give the shirt off his back for friends or family in need.
In the 1930s, he began a highly-successful career in the logging industry that spanned more than 40 years working in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
His most significant contribution was his introductory promotion of a mechanical skidder beginning in the 1950s that totally revolutionized how trees were harvested.
His achievements were recognized throughout the industry and were awarded as outstanding contributions to the logging industry.
He was an intelligent man with vision, passion, determination, and the courage to step out of mainstream traditional thinking to march to his own drum for his beliefs and values.
Always resourceful and innovative, Walter was a true self-made man who never lost the farming roots that he was born to in Rainy River District of Ontario.
During his retirement years in Abbotsford, he maintained his ability to visualize and create new and improved methods of traditional work. He was the consummate gardener who practised his own form of organic gardening before the term was ever used.
Friends and neighbours would eagerly buy all the vegetables he was willing to sell from his home on Miraun Crescent.
Walter lived a full life following his own uniquely determined path. Forever he will live in our hearts and thoughts as a gifted and committed husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. We love you deeply, Walter, and will miss you more.
“A strong life is like that of a ship of war which has its own place in the fleet and can share in its strength and discipline, but can also go forth alone to the solitude of the infinite sea.” (P.G. Hamerton)
Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 14, 2001 at 1 p.m., with viewing starting at noon. from Woodlawn Funeral Home (2310 Clearbrook Rd., Abbotsford, B.C.) Rev. Wayne Wattman will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Canadian Cancer Society.