Obituary of B. William Wells

Passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024, one day after his 92nd birthday. Much to his surprise he far outlived his siblings, Alan Wells (Maria) and Evelyn Jagger (Allie). He was born on October 24, 1932 in Mimico, Ontario. In 1944 his parents, Stanley and Gladys (Jarvis) purchased the Hilton Beach Hotel and moved their family from Port Credit to St. Joseph Island. Bill attended his early high school years at Scollard Hall in North Bay, Ontario and also attended Sault Collegiate. After high school, he worked at Algoma Steel, in the mines of Elliot Lake and Labrador and he drove a school bus, taking students over to Bruce Mines High School from St. Joe Island.

In 1959 Bill married Judy (Wood). They raised 4 children in Hilton Beach: Julie Stevens (Calvin), Carol Garside (Richard), Joan Wells (Robert Cilia) and John Wells. 

In 1964 he purchased the Hotel from his parents and operated it successfully until 1988 when it was sold. He was rather infamous for running the hotel in its hay day when it earned its name as the 'Tiltin Hilton'. He served many their first legal drink and also tossed many out for bad behaviour. There are some colorful stories of him during his tenure there. He was known for his blue eyes, his hot temper, his short patience, and his large stature. Through the business many family friendships were made with annual visitors from the U.S. Since a hotel was a largely seasonal business, he continued driving many islanders to and from high school and kindergarten via the 'little bus'. Mr. Wells was a stern bus driver who sometimes forgot to stop and let them on or off the bus. Bill drove a school bus until his late seventies.

Although he spent most of his time working, in the slow season he was an avid snowmobiler who led many groups from out of town around the area on snowmobiles. He was a founding member of the Voyageur Snowmobile Club and worked many volunteer hours grooming trails and putting up the tree line for safe snowmobile crossing between Hilton Beach and Bruce Mines, and between St. Joe and Drummond Islands. For years he was always the first to cross the ice at the beginning of the season and the last one to cross at the end. He was involved in his community and served as Reeve twice in Hilton Beach.

Bill loved sports and played slow pitch in the summer and hockey in the winter well into his fifties. His favourite place on earth was Cockburn Island, where he spent time whenever he could get away, and always in hunting season. He purchased a boat so he could go at his leisure, but only during the worst weather because that's how he rolled. In the winter he would cross on snowmobile with the other fearless riders.

After selling the hotel Bill served as Harbour Master both in Hilton Beach and Richards Landing for several summers. He loved dogs and many will remember his faithful companion Callie from these places.

Bill will be remembered by his grandchildren as the grumpy Legend – “Poppa/Grandpa Billy” who had an insatiable appetite for pie, Turtles, Baileys and corn on the cob: late Jocelyne Stevens, Christopher Stevens, Caylen Stevens (Heather), Zack Garside (Jaclyn), Meghan Thoume (Tom), Kady Evoy, Liam Evoy (Jaceil), Andrew Ruschpler (Samantha), Hope Wells and Hayden Wells. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Oliver, Theodore, Isla, Macsen, Reese, Alex, and Grace.

Brother-in-law of Mavis Chisholm (Dutch Hoogsteen), late John Wood, Iona Bishop (late Gary), Eldon Wood (Cheryl), Rod Wood (Penny). Predeceased by Judy’s parents Charles and Edna Wood.

The family would like to thank the staff on 3rd floor Cedar and Birch at the F. J. Davey Home for Bill's care in his final years.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a Celebration of Bill’s life at the Hilton Beach Community Hall on Sunday, November 3, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. until 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to The St. Joseph Twp. PSW Outreach or the F.J. Davey Home would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Northwood Funeral Home Cremation and Reception Centre (942 Great Northern Rd, 705-945-7758).