ROBERT (BOB) HILTON

Bob loved his life. The week before he went to hospital he was looking at the blue sky and the deer wandering down the street and he was full of glee.

He said he was pleased, he had a great life, accomplished the things he wanted to do, and lived where he was happiest, in his home with his beloved wife and dog.

His mother Cecilia, father John, and brother Jack all predeceased him at a much younger age, so at 92 years old Bob found the extra 20 years wondrous and he was grateful to have lived so long.

Bob was rarely sick or in pain, but falling in his later years had slowed him down. He was tough thus it took multiple simultaneous ailments to be the challenge he could not overcome, however this helped him accept it was his time to say goodbye and leave us, while his daughter held his hand. We are grateful for the outstanding and compassionate care from everyone involved during his 6 week stay at St. Boniface Hospital. A special thanks also to Dr K.Shenoda and Dr P. Harris as you are marvellous too.

It's with mixed emotions we say Goodbye. Bob was loved deeply, admired greatly, and will always be treasured and missed. Sadly he had Alzheimer's and had been struggling to find his beloved words which was devastating for a man who taught English . He read voraciously. The Globe and Mail, the Winnipeg Free Press and crosswords were part of each day, and then there were the books. Not being able to express himself easily was crushing him. Had he stayed with us longer he would have declined, thus there is Grace and gratitude that he left us when he did, while he still remembered who we are and could share his thoughts with us.

Bob was a gentleman. He wore a suit and tie everyday till he retired at 55, then he got his first pair of jeans and shockingly went tie-less. He rarely raised his melodic voice and was usually calm and composed. He was a thinker, and though questions could take days before he answered, he was thorough and had masterful dry wit.

Bob created his own path. He was a man with many talents. He loved adventures, tackling challenges, creative solutions and projects. He cherished travelling, old cars, dogs, trees, birds, gardening, equal rights, and Seville orange marmalade especially when he concocted it himself and could cut the rind thick, and even better when he smothered his toast made from bread he hand kneaded with wheat he had ground.

He had many aspirations. When Bob was 20 he rode his bicycle from Brandon to Montreal, boarded a ship to England, then rode to a farmers field where an old Rolls Royce awaited him. He shipped it to Halifax for $100 and delighted in the drive home.

Bob met his future wife Bid in Souris. Bid was married to Ross at the time and they had 4 young children. Bob routinely cut through their yard and, as members of the same church, they became great friends, and he was Laura's Godfather. When Ross died in a plane accident, Bob stepped up and asked Bid to marry him and after a year she agreed and they were married in Brandon. Bob was leaving to teach in Africa so Bid and the children joined him. Summers were spent in Britain and Europe, climbing hills and visiting castles. It was in Ghana where Bob met Pat and George Robb and they have remained the closest of friends, enjoying Pat's baking and an occasional good Scotch.

Over the years Bob and Bid shared their love of travelling in Japan, New Zealand, the Caribbean, Antarctica, Alaska and many places in-between, where Bob and Bid savoured trying all the different cuisines. Great fun was had when they celebrated Bids 75th birthday by going white water rafting. Bob's favourite country was Canada though, especially the prairies with its big sky and distant horizons.

Bob was super creative. He loved the arts and enjoyed painting, sketching, stained glass, theatre, ballet , symphony or being a member in several choirs including the Bison Men's Choir. He also loved carpentry. He and Bid bought a wee cottage on the lake at Victoria Beach and he eagerly designed and built a bunkhouse, kitchen, bathroom and screened in porch . Next up was making tables, a Gothic door and a 6 sided outhouse with a steeple roof and one of his stained glass windows. When the lake washed away much of the shore he created forms, and with re-bar and 3:2:1 mix cement, he and the kids built a wall that has preserved the property for the last 50 years. Many drives to the lake were interrupted as we stopped to wander through forests looking for boulders to build rock wall tiers.

Bob was an English and Drama teacher for many years at Vincent Massey Collegiate prior to being a librarian there. His students were familiar with some of his eccentric antics, such as when he was reading to the class with his chair tilted so much it fell backwards on the floor with him in it. Bob just kept reading laying on his back in the chair. Another day he emptied and flipped a garbage bin to trap a spider, he then sat on the bin, reading out loud till the end of class. The students were often dumbfounded. Most days Bob would stride miles along South Drive's Oak forest canopy going to and from school, and home for lunch to walk the animals. Neighbours would see this Moses-like man with 3 dogs and a cat running beside them and they were always entertained.

Bob's early years as a bachelor taught him many skills and enabled spontaneity. There were times he'd drive Bid crazy as she'd be looking for him and he'd gone off shopping and simply forgot to let her know. He took great care of Bid over the years and supported any project she undertook. They both gave generously to charities and helped people in need. When Bid heard homeless people desperately needed socks, Bob created a clothing donation box for the church that the parishioners devotedly filled, then Bob would deliver the clothes to Main Street Project or Siloam Mission. He used to make posters for the church too. Bob was full of ideas and they could alter his course. One day Bid took the kids to the zoo so he could finish his thesis on Tolkien's trees as there was a time crunch. When they got back Bob said come see what I've done. Bid thought he'd finished his paper but no, Bob had bought an inflatable beach ball, some glue and string and made a round string lamp instead. They never fought but Bid went out for a drive that day.

Every day Bob found something beautiful and incredible in the simplest things, and every day he was grateful for the blessings he received.

He will always be remembered and loved. Our world was bigger because he was in it.

Bob leaves behind his dear wife Bid (Vivian); sons, Larry with his wife Margaret, his grandson Robert and his great granddaughter Maisey; Blaine and his wife Yuna; Rod and his wife Karen, with his grandchildren Collin and Amy with her partner Cody; as well as his great granddaughter Kaisley; his daughter Laura; and his dog Gus.

Bob's funeral will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, at St. Paul's Anglican Church located at 830 North Dr., with a luncheon after in the Parish Hall.

His internment will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at St. John's Cathedral located at 135 Anderson Ave.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

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204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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