Feb 1, 1931 – May 28, 2017
Bill passed peacefully, with his loving wife Shirley by his side, at the Golden & District Hospital, at 9:00 PM on Sunday, the 28th of May 2017, after a short battle with Cancer.
Bill was born to Archie D. Sova and Juanita Bell Simons on the 1st of Feb 1931, in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan, U.S.A. When he was young, he went to live with his mother in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
At a young age, he joined the US Navy and served his country in the Korean War for 7 years. In Aug of 1949, he was a fireman apprentice in the Navy, participating in a series of anti-submarine warfare cruises on the USS Badoeng Strait. He also sailed on the USS Antietam.
Some time after the Navy, he moved to British Columbia, Canada. He was a professional driver for 21 years, logging truck, highway & chartered bus. Also, a heavy-duty mechanic.
On the 18th of June 2006, he married Shirley (Rauch) Rande in Golden, BC. Billie would say he used to live upstairs over a vacant lot, he did have a good sense of humour.
He loved to play the steel guitar, listen to music, laugh, tell jokes, fish, watch movies, tell stories of his past and sometimes you didn’t know if he was pulling your leg, play cards with family and friends, and go to Radium Hot Springs for a swim with Shirley.
He is survived by his wife Shirley Sova, of Golden, B.C. A half-brother, Loren Lance Stevens of the US, two sons, Darryl (Linda) Sova of Prince George, BC. & Brice Sova of Vernon, BC. 3 stepdaughters Terri Ann (Don) Charles of Edmonton Alberta, Sharon (Dale) Leslie of Golden BC & Carol (Don) Roy of Salmon Arm BC, 8 stepsons Richard Benbow of Castlegar BC, Anthony, Darcey & Kenden Dubois, R. Eugene (Louise) Rande, Wayne (Heather) Rande & Lorn (Kimberley) Rande of Golden BC, Bruce (Brenda) Rande of Lyalta AB, grandsons, Brice Sova of Edmonton, AB, Michael Sova of Houston BC. And several more grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Billie was predeceased by his father Archie Sova, a mother, Juanita Ames, a sister, Joy Luella Sova, adopted name of Ruth Ann (Curtis) Miller, five half brothers: Jack Joseph (Buster) Sova, Archie Sova Jr., Garth Allen Sova, Noel Leroy Sova, & Michael Preston Ames. Two sons, Lance Michael Sova and Kenneth John LeRoy Sova, and a stepson, Floyd Arthur Rande.
He had many friends in Golden, BC, and Prince George, BC. Billie will be greatly missed by all.
There will be a celebration of life at a later date, which will be announced in the newspaper.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.
John 14:1-4
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
