William "Bill" Roy MacMillan

Passed on May 26th, 2024 with his beloved Anne, his wife and true partner for 61 years, by his side. He will be greatly missed by his children Andrew (Rebecca), Heather (Ahmad), and Bruce (Jennifer), his grandchildren William, Ewan, and Henry, his extended family and wonderful friends of so many years.

Born during a terrific thunderstorm in Eugenia, Ontario, Bill was the much loved son of Roy and Addie and younger brother of Margaret. Survived by Anne, his children and their partners, grandchildren, brother-in-law Craig Munro and sister-in-law Jani Munro, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents and sister, brothers-in-law Walter McBride, Stuart Munro, and Murray Munro and sister-in-law Lynn Munro.

Bill’s formative years in the country shaped his enduring love of family, his life-long passion for music, especially the piano, and his deep appreciation of education. He attended the University of Toronto where he completed undergraduate (1957) and graduate (1958) degrees in Chemical Engineering. He then accepted a position with Howard Smith Paper Mills which took him to Cornwall, Ontario where he formed many friendships through a shared love of skiing and sailing. The latter led to his meeting and marrying Anne Elizabeth Munro in 1963. Bill and Anne moved to Montreal, where Bill completed his MBA (McGill, 1967). They started a family, raising three children in Pointe Claire and, subsequently, Ottawa to which they moved in 1971 when Bill joined the Federal Public Service.

Bill was a member of the congregation of Rideau Park United Church for over fifty years; he was very active, as an elder, as superintendent of the Sunday School for seventeen years and later, with Anne, for twenty-five years, as a leader of the Group for Friends, a club for challenged young adults.

Bill continued to be incredibly active throughout his retirement; he loved art and music and spending summers at the cottage with Anne and in the company of family and friends through many gatherings and celebrations.

Bill’s kindness, his cheerfulness, and laughter enriched the lives of those who knew and loved him. To his grandchildren, he was “Papa”, full of fun, always interested and always ready with an imaginative story to share. His memory is a blessing and will be treasured.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Ottawa Heart Institute or Rideau Park United Church would be appreciated. A service to celebrate his life will be held at Rideau Park United Church on June 16th at 2 pm. A visitation will occur prior to the service at 1 pm at the church. A reception will follow the service.