Bill Marr flies off into the sunset
Bill Marr took his final journey from the confines of Earth on Feb. 23. The Langley pioneer and longtime pilot died at age 100 at Langley Lodge.
His memorial service on Friday had many wonderful touches - most of which involved the theme of flight. The Fraser Blues aircraft formation team, based at Langley Airport, flew over St. Andrew's Anglican Church, where the service was held. The flypast took place after the service, so that all in attendance could come out and see it. The blue sky and puffy white clouds made a wonderful backdrop.
The four planes flew low over the church twice. Then on the third pass, one plane went upwards from the other three, and off into a different direction. This is known as the "missing man" formation, and is a common and memorable salute to a fellow pilot who has died.
Bill was born in Bramshott, England on July 5, 1917, the most difficult and challenging year of the First World War. His father, well-loved pioneer doctor Benjamin Marr, had gone overseas from Langley to take part in the war and Bill's mother had gone with him.
Bill grew up in Langley - first in Fort Langley, in the Marr House which still stands today, and later in Murrayville. Both his parents died when he was still a young man. He was in pre-med training at UBC in 1939 when the Second World War broke out and, as a member of the B.C. Regiment militia unit, was soon called up.
He didn't want to be part of the army - he wanted to fly. Through some connections his father had with the Westminster Regiment, he was able to get into the air force and was among the first contingent of pilots trained at Sea Island, as part of the Commonwealth Air Training Program. He was then sent to Toronto and Moncton before going overseas. He met his wife Etta while still in Canada and they were married in 1941. She passed away in 2015 after they had marked 74 years of marriage, and their son Flynn said theirs was a true partnership.
Bill flew combat missions in Europe, including over the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, and then served as a trainer until the war ended. Before he was even back in Canada, he had joined Trans-Canada Airlines (later Air Canada) and flew everything from 18-passenger Lockheed Lodestars to DC-8s, before retiring in 1977 at the age of 60. He actually was retired for a longer period than his working years with the airline.
He was based in Toronto for many years, and also spent many years flying between Vancouver and Victoria. He bought a Cessna float plane after retiring and continued to fly until he was 83.
Bill was one of the three most knowledgeable people on the infinite details of Langley history that I was privileged to meet in my 16 years as editor of The Langley Times. The other two were Norm Sherritt and Hugh Davis. All are now gone.
He had compiled a detailed map and drawing of all the buildings he remembered in the Fort Langley of the 1920s. He also knew a great deal about Murrayville, where his family later lived, and frequently rode his horse to meet up with other teens at P.Y. Porter's store.
He continued to meet regularly with fellow pilots and air force comrades and was also very active in the Langley community. He was not only a wealth of knowledge on the past, but was keenly interested in the present and future. He would bring detailed letters into The Times on subjects as diverse as global warming and China.
He and his family helped set up a fund through Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation in memory of his father, Langley's first doctor.
Flynn said his father really missed his mother after her passing, and went downhill following her death. However, he enjoyed celebrating his 100th birthday last July.
The Marr family has contributed a lot to Langley over the years, and Bill will be greatly missed.
He chose a short poem to be shared at his service. Entitled "The Last Flight," here it is.
I have soared on winds of silver
Through clouds of brilliant sun,
Carried thousands of their journeys
And landed safely, every one.
But now on wings of silent prayer
I take this flight alone
to gently pass beyopnmd the blue
to land in a great unknown.
This flight was logged some time ago
and God controls the plan.
He is my pilot now, guiding me
to His Promised Land.
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