William ‘Bill’ John Salter
January 23, 2018
Of London, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018, in his 86th year. Cherished husband of Donalda Salter. Loving father of Michael (Janet), Liam (Olivia Adams), and Stephen (Linda Gionet). Proud grandfather of Colin, Eric, Samuel and Jessie Salter. Dear brother of Charles “Chuck” (Norma) and Ron (Helen). Also missed by many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his siblings, Shirley Wilhelm and Fred Salter. Bill was an athlete, teacher, multi-sport coach and sports organizer. He was an inspirational leader and motivator. As a youth, he starred in Junior A hockey and, for a time, he was property of the Detroit Red Wings. As a student athlete at the University of Western Ontario, Bill excelled in wrestling and football. He was intercollegiate wrestling champion in 1958 and inducted into the Western Wrestling Wall of Fame in 2001. For more than 35 years he drew the best out of his students and athletes in a teaching career that included stops at Beal, Clarke Road, Saunders, Beck and Central. In 2009, Bill was recognized as the London Sports Council “Volunteer of the Year.” His love for running was expressed in marathons. He competed in four Boston Marathons with his best time being 2:59. Bill was a tireless organizer of Huff N Puff hockey and cross-country ski meets at Circle R Ranch, and was chair of the London Oldtimers Sports Association. He was an enduring champion for Western, being involved with W Club for many years, and served as President. For over 40 years, Bill organized the Western Cross Country Invitational which was recently renamed the Bill Salter Western International. Bill was also an avid fisherman, cross-country skier and loved his annual trips to Temagami. Ultimately though, his family was his passion; he was a tireless spectator grandfather at sporting events and an enthusiastic texter with his grandchildren. A funeral service will be conducted at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, London on Friday, January 26, 2018 at 2:00 p.m., with visitation from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Interment to follow at Woodland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in memory of Bill are asked to consider the Adopt A Mustang Program (Western Athletics).
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I was Lucky enough to have Mr Salter as my primary Phys Ed teacher at Central from 1983 to 1988. I remember him as a fun Loving and dedicated teacher. He knew my Dad from their UWO days and they both would always ask me how the other was doing. Both were gifted athletes and sports crazy. I hope your Family can take comfort in the knowledge that he had such a positive effect on so many young lives who remember him to this day. Sean Sweeney.
My condolences to the Salter family. Mr. Salter was such a constant on the local XC and XC skiing scenes in London. He was a very inspiring man, whose personality will be missed by those of us who had the privilege of being in his presence. He was never my teacher or coach, but we all knew who he was and admired him. I think it is awesome that you included his marathon PB in his obituary! Cathy Williams (Montcalm '82, UWO '85)
Steve, my deepest condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father.
Dear Donalda and Family My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time. I know it has been a long time since we have been together, but I have wonderful memories of our football games at Western, bridge, etc. Your Bill was a super gentleman and he will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. My Bill and I enjoyed the fun we had, take care Donalda. Sincerely, Marion Ford
It is with great sorrow that I heard of Bill's passing, yesterday. He taught with me at LCCI and I have kind and thoughtful memories of him. He touched many lives during his teaching career, and he will surely be missed by his many colleagues and former students!
It is with great sorrow that I heard of Bill's passing, yesterday. He taught with me at LCCI and I have kind and thoughtful memories of him. He touched many lives during his teaching career, and he will surely be missed by his many colleagues and former students!
It is with great sadness that I heard of Bill Salter's passing. I will cherish many memories of Bill through our Wrestling, W Club, W Club Golf tournament, Wrestling Golf Tournament . Bill will be remembered as just an awesome personality. Someone who gave his time relentlessly for others. You will be surely missed by many including myself. It was an honor knowing you Bill. Your soul and spirit is alive in many of our hearts. My deepest condolences to the Salter Family. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
To the Family: May the God of all comfort continue to strengthen the family as the days, weeks, months and years passes. Be assured that those who are "sleeping in death" God keeps in his memory because they are precious in his eyes. My sincerest condolences. John 6:40 and Revelation 21:3-5. For more comfort please visit our website: jw.org and view the faith strengthening video: Is There Hope for the Dead? 🌼
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
My wife Barbara and I would like to offer our condolences and sympathy to Donalda and family on the passing of Bill. Salts as he was known in Huff and Puff was a great guy and my one time defence partner. Salts wore number 19 and I wore 19A. When I first joined Huff and Puff the guy that sold the sweaters told me that I couldn't have # 19 as it was already in use. I asked for 19A and got it. Let's raise a glass to Salts who taught me there was more to the game than sweater numbers. A toast to the man known as Salts who gave so much of his time to Huff and Puff. Bob Kendall
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
(Donated to Adopt A Mustang Program)
Bill was a mentor to so many students and yes teachers and administrators. His professional approach to education will be missed. R.I.P. Bill you will be missed.
Donalda & Family, Our condolences on Bill's passing. So glad to have met up with you both last Spring. Such fond memories of those Clarke Road pot-lucks. A great guy who'll be missed by so many. John & Sandy Dixon
Coach Salter was my teacher and football coach while I attended Beal Secondary School.He was a person I always respected and looked up to whether in the classroom or on the football field. My prayers are with him and his family. Ken Taylor
My condolences to the family. Bill Salter was the best hockey coach I ever had and I appreciated the dedication he had in motivating me to be the best I could be. Mark Hebert Toronto
I was saddened to hear the news of Bill's passing. I thoroughly enjoyed his company at Mustang events. He loved the Mustangs and we loved him back. I will miss seeing him at the Games. My father-in-law's funeral is at the same time so I will have to miss Bill's service. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time and I hope that they can find comfort in remembering the good times and knowing that Bill had such a positive influence on so many people and our programs.
Donalda and family: My deepest condolences. So remember my years with Bill as a tennis partner. He accomplished so much in his life and know he will be dearly missed. Treasure the memories. Am in Arizona so won't make the memorial.
Bill and 1 were students at Western together and both on the wrestling team. I enjoyed his friendship and always admired his winning candor and dedecationd
Dear Donalda and family, my late husband John Sweeney enjoyed and admired Bill's own success in athletics but also as a coach and organizer of athletics. Your happy memories will help you through this very sad time. With love, Jo Ann Sweeney PARK
THANKS Bill FOR INTRODUCING ME TO CROSS COUNTRY SKIING. WE'LL MISS YOU BUT YOU LEAVE US WITH MANY HAPPY MEMORIES. TO DONALDA AND FAMILY MAY YOU FIND COMFORT IN YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. LUCY
So sad to hear that Bill is not with us anymore. He was my phys ed teacher and Cross Country ski coach at Central. The year he ran OFSAA, our team took the bronze medal. After highschool, Bill and I would get together to go steelheading on the Maitland. He had a great and positive influence on my life and my condolences go out to his family and all others that this great man touched.
Donalda, Karen and I were saddened to receive the news of Bill's passing. Our deepest condolences. Mike, Liam and Steve, Your Dad was a lifelong presence in both the lives of Karen and I. Individually in our childhoods and as a couple in our adult lives. To Karen and I, Bill was a trusted family friend, a coach and mentor at various stages throughout our lives. In more recent years, he has been a shining example of loyal friendship to both of our parents, in particular to Karen's father, Mike Yuhasz. Remembering your father fills me with memories of growing up as neighbours of the Salter family. Great memories. Happy times. I could write a book - "The Lords of Great Oak Crt". Bill was a steady guiding influence in all our young lives. Looking back, he had to have been an exceptionally tolerant and understanding man to put up with all of the 'Oakridge boys'. I was quick to acknowledge in my youth that Bill was a Dad best left 'unprovoked'. He was one of the toughest guys both physically and mentally that I'll ever know. I only hope we provided him with some laughs along the way. Bill led by example. He'd set the bar just high enough to motivate you to believe in yourself without deflating you. Unless your dream was to run the Boston Marathon, in which case his completing it 4 times could be considered a dream deflator for me. Both Karen and I were so lucky to have had the good fortune to have had a man like Bill Salter in our lives. He will be remembered by us as one of our 'greats'. Chris and Karen Potter
Bill was my physed teacher and cross country running and skiing coach at Beck. I graduated in 1982 and had stayed in touch since. Bill and I exchanged Christmas cards for 25+ years. This year I did not receive one and wondered why. Bill was more then a teacher and a coach. He cared about his students and took a personal interest in their lives. Bill was "Ted" to Lisa Fesuk, Karen Baldwin and I. He was truly a teddy bear, gentle but also knew when to challenge performance in his coaching. To this day when skiing up a hill, I still hear his words "drive those legs". I last saw Bill in 2009 when he attended my father's celebration of life service. The Oosterhuis kids have many fond memories of being taught and coached by Bill at Beck and skiing with him at Circle R Ranch. Donalda, Michael, Liam and Stephen thank you for all of the years that you shared Bill with so many others.
To the Salter Family - Please accept my deepest sympathy in the loss of Bill. He truly was an icon in the world of sports, and will be sadly missed. I remember him from our Stratford days. Our parents were close friends; Bill was an usher at my brother's wedding in Port Carling. Chuck and Ron, I remember our "growing up" days in Stratford and at Hunter's Beach. My caring thoughts are with each of you. Norma (Dunn) Clare
Our condolences to the Salter family on the passing of a wonderful man! He will be missed.
Bill (Ted) Salter had a big impact on my siblings and I. He coached XC skiing to 5 of the 6 Oosterhuis kids at Beck and instilled in our families a love for the sport which, despite the lack of snow these days, I still enjoy doing with my own kids when we can. Sarah remembers him saying, "Drive those legs!". I remember him saying, "Ski off the top!". Rest in peace, Bill. My condolences to Donalda (also my mom's name, and my daughter's name) and family.
So sorry to hear this sad news. Our thoughts and prayers to you all.
I, too, felt such sadness when I heard of Bill's passing. I remember him as a warm, dedicated presence in my back yard, Gibbons Park, as he made happen another Bill Salter Western Cross Country Meet. He cared about all students, their physical and mental health, and worked tirelessly to improve curriculum that was stimulating, inclusive and most of all, fun. He made such a difference.
My thoughts and sincere condolences to Donalda and family. Bill has left us with so many memories to cherish...a wonderful man, mentor and friend. I will miss my golfing partner at the Bill Salter tourney.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Salter family.! Bill was an icon in his dedication to teaching, coaching, and helping new teachers! He did so much for sport both in the elementary and secondary schools, as well as UWO! He made an incredible contribution to the London Sports Council, and Sports Hall of Fame.! He will be remembered as one of the founding fathers of sport and physical education in London! Vaughan and Jane Peckham
Coach Salter was not just a Football and Wrestling Coach to me and so many, He was also a Life Mentor and Friend.
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