Memorable Manitobans: William Sanford “Bill” Kirbyson (1908-1995)

Educator, elevator agent.

Born in the RM of Whitewater on 3 May 1908, son of John Richard Kirbyson (1876-1954) and Christina May “Tina” Sellers (1881-1949), and brother of Frederick Alvin “Fred” Kirbyson, he attended the Brandon Normal School (1930-1931). He taught at Birchlawn School (1932-1936) and Winnipeg Beach School (1942-1944), and was Secretary-Treasurer of the Fairfax School District (circa 1948).

He interrupted his teaching career to manage grain elevators at Fairfax (c1949) and Cypress River (1949-1951). Returning to teaching at Stockton School (1953-1955), he later served as Principal of Sanford School (1963-1964), Mapleton School (1964-1965), Gunton School (1965-1967), La Riviere School (1967-1969), and Holmfield School (1969-1970).

On 24 December 1932, he married Jean Steele Crawford (1909-1987) at Emerson and they had two sons and two daughters, including Ronald Crawford Kirbyson. The family lived for a time at Crandall (1941) and Hartney (1962).

He died at the Deer Lodge Centre on 3 July 1995 and was buried in the Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Big jump is shown Tuesday in Army recruiting figures,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 September 1941, page 5.

“Fairfax Cons. S. D. No. 1195,” Winnipeg Free Press, 29 March 1948, page 20.

“Engagements [Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Wellman],” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 December 1962, page 16.

“Selkirk principal keeps mum,” Winnipeg Free Press, 18 May 1965, page 16.

“Selkirk teachers to meet,” Winnipeg Free Press, 19 May 1965, page 7.

“Lai - Kirbyson,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 July 1957, page 22.

Winnipeg estate file PR95-01-37474, William Kirbyson, Archives of Manitoba.

Obituary [Jean Steele Kirbyson], Winnipeg Free Press, 6 December 1987, page 22.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 6 August 1995, page B5.

We thank Jillian Kirbyson for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 5 November 2023

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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