Walter Letvinchuk

Wally left us with dignity and in peace having family at his side after living a very full and independent life until his passing at the age of 92.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, and moving to Vancouver, BC with family in the early 1940’s, he is predeceased by Rita, his wife of 61 years, parents, sister Nancy, brothers Fred and Alex, and survived by his son Anthony and daughter-in-law Kathleen, grandchildren James (Taylor), Kara Bryn (Mac), Sean; nieces, nephews and family; and many friends made on his life journey.

Wally attended Vancouver Technical High School and after graduation started work in the print room, moving on as a draftsman, for steel fabricator Western Bridge located on Vancouver’s False Creek. Having a passion for design, load-bearing features, and construction elements of the structural steel business, he stayed with successor company CANRON for some four decades. He gained a skilled industry reputation for detailing and project managing the supply of steel components for buildings, bridges, sports venues, and other structures of scale on the West Coast of Canada and the US; including oil sands extraction equipment in northern Alberta. He was very proud of working on the Husky Stadium expansion project.

Baseball was his favourite team sport and in the 1970’s and 80’s he coached Little League Baseball in Vancouver’s Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood offering a “do your best” approach to playing the game. He loved long-distance driving and often reminisced about annual family road trips during the 1970’s to visit dear friends in Los Angeles with Hotel California by The Eagles playing on the radio.

He was a dapper and fun-loving person, always in the moment, listening to what others had to say in a conversation and a source of wisdom and inspiration for those around him. Keeping up with the latest trends in popular music, sports of all types, and current events of the day, he was always young at heart.

Wally and Rita were active in BC Fuchsia and Begonia Society enjoying social occasions and events with club members. He selflessly cared for Rita in her later years.

He was a wonderful father, adored by his grandchildren, and always a fixture on the sidelines or in the stands at all their sports activities including soccer, baseball, and hockey games, offering positive encouragement.

We celebrate a life well lived.

Visitation and Life Reflections will be held March 13, 2025, 6 pm to 8 pm at Kearney Columbia-Bowell Chapel (219-6th St., New Westminster). A Celebration of Life is on March 22, 2025, 11:00 am at VanDusen Botanical Garden (5151 Oak St., Vancouver).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Walter Letvinchuk to BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund, Jumpstart (to help kids access sports), or a charity of your choice.