Born and raised in St. Boniface, Manitoba.  Wally joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1945 prior to the end of WWII.  Demobilized in 1946 , he later re-enlisted in the same year.   From 1946 to 1953 Wally served on various ships and bases as an A/A rate, (anti-aircraft gunner).  Wally transferred to the Physical and Recreational Training branch in 1953 and qualified LSPT2.  For the next six years he was drafted (posted)  to HMCS Naden, HMCS Churchill and periodic sea going assignments.   In 1959 as a PO2 he returned to the PT school and completed the P&RT trade group 3 course and in 1965 as a PO1 qualified as trade group 4.    Thereafter he served in HMCS Naden and Royal Roads Military College where as a CPO2 he elected to retire.  Wally was very competitive in hockey but, more so in boxing.  In fact, he was at one time the middleweight champion of Manitoba.  After leaving the ring he spent time coaching other pugilists, one being CF Sports Hall of Fame Des Desrosiers and once himself held two amateur titles. Shortly after retirement Wally was employed by British Columbia Institute of Technology as a Recreation Coordinator and subsequently, moved to full retirement and Snow-birding in 1983. Retirement was spent rotating between his Canim Lake Front property and Yuma, Arizona until 2000. The period 2000-2012 showed the toughness and heart of the man having to battle Quadruple bypass, prostate, Kidney and colon cancer, in addition to a second heart attack in March 2011.  At this point his remaining kidney was failing, necessitating thrice weekly dialysis.  After 8 months of dialysis and a decrease in function, Wally decided to leave this world on his terms by refusing further dialysis which lead to his demise.

God Speed Mate..............Spirit Speed Metis