William Arnold Stearman

R163036       Sergeant

William Arnold Stearman was born on October 17, 1922, at the family farm on Concession 7, Scott Township, just north of the Foster Memorial, as were all his siblings.  His father, William George, served as a trustee of the Foster Memorial. He attended a one-room school on the 7th concession, and later rode a horse into town to go to the high school, leaving the horse with his Ball grandparents who lived near the old Baptist Church by the railway tracks on Brock Street. He was a bright lad and was featured in the local paper on July 20, 1933, when he was almost 11, with honours in his Entrance results for high school. He completed his Upper School Examinations in June 1939. 

Family lore has it that he got a scholarship from Queen’s and also one from Scott Township. It appears that he went to Queen’s but only to enlist in the RCAF, not to attend as a student. Arnold attended several courses, including one at RCAF Station Toronto, Initial Training School, Avenue Road, in May 1944, and 151247 course 112 Air Bombers Class ‘A’ 17/ 9/’44 (class photo shown below). The other participants autographed the photo with their signatures. He rose through the ranks from Leading Air Craftsman to Sergeant, and also served as a wireless operator. His uniform badges are shown in a photo below. He earned the War Service Badge “General Service Class” – photo of citation below. 

After he was demobilized, Arnold married Margaret Brown of Toronto on February 2, 1946. They had four children: Elizabeth Jane (Betty) born July 16, 1948, William John (Bill) born June 16, 1950, Lucia Margaret born Sept 7, 1952, and Bruce Douglas born February 24, 1958. He attended the Ontario Agricultural College, later University of Guelph, graduating in 1949. He worked for Chipman Chemicals May 31, 1949, to January 1, 1966. He also worked for Industrial Vegetation Control Services both in Burlington and Halifax. In 1972, he moved to Edmonton to work for Alberta agriculture. He was the proud author of Weeds of Alberta. He retired in 1987, and in his spare time enjoyed lapidary (stone cutting and polishing), philately (stamp collecting), and growing things in his greenhouse, including chestnut trees. Arnold died November 5, 2001, and is buried at the Foster Memorial Cemetery, near his wife Margaret, his brother Cloyne, and his parents.

We thank him for his service. 

We will remember them.

NM