Couillard, Dalphas (Duff)
Posted on April 11, 2017 by Maple Creek
Dalphas (Duff) Couillard ~ 1925-2017
Duff passed away unexpectedly in the Red Deer Regional Hospital March 21, 2017 with brother, Neil. and a granddaughter by his side.
Duff was predeceased by his daughter, Kathy in June 2014. His parents Fred and Edith Couillard (nee Unsworth) of Maple Creek.
Duff is survived by his brother Neil of Blackie, Alta. and his sister, Shirley Ross of Kamloops, B.C. He has four grandchildren and four great-grandkids.
In 1942 Duff signed up with the Air Force and became Rear Gunner in Lancaster airplanes and later became a Flying Officer. He was commissioned by the R.A.F. and flew with the New Zealand Squad. Duff is featured in the CBC documentary “War Story” in the 1st episode called “Bomber Command – Hitting Back” http://www.thememoryproject.com.
Shortly after his return home after the war, when the Maple Creek Hospital caught fire in the middle of a cold winter’s night, Duff assisted with the rescue of many patients from the upper balcony and rooms of the burning hospital.
Duff married Lillian MacDonnell and had a daughter Kathy. They lived in Regina for many years where Duff was a sales representative for London Life Insurance and later as a commercial traveler.
He spent many years running hotels and motels in southern Alberta and later farming in the Irvine area before retiring to Medicine Hat and later Red Deer where his daughter and grandchildren were living.
A celebration of life will be held in Red Deer on June 17, 2017.
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