Walter "Pat" Dill

Walter Patrick Dill, 84, of Beaufort, SC, passed away peacefully at home in the arms of his son on 25 October 2023. Pat was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on 17 March 1939, the second son of Edwin (Ted) Dill of New Westminster, BC, and Verna Wiedemann of Sacramento, California.

Pat and his older brother, Frank Barry Dill, were an adventurous pair, learning to love the outdoors through all the fishing, hunting, and skiing the Pacific Northwest could offer. Pat enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1957 to 1963, where he met his wife, Janice Mary Chiasson of Pictou, Nova Scotia. Pat was initially trained as an Airborne Radar Technician who saw his duties patrolling the Atlantic between Europe and Canada, searching for Soviet submarines during the very beginning of the Cold War. Pat later trained to become a diver with Search and Rescue Squadrons. He received an accolade presented by the Canadian Red Cross, undersigned none other than Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl of Burma, and coached several swimmers that later medaled in the Pan-American Games.

Following his military career, Pat excelled in the electronics and computer industries, working with companies such as IBM, Phillips, and Motorola. Pat and Janice brought their first child into the world in 1966 (Paddy), followed by daughters Colleen and Susanne in 1968 and 1970, respectively. In 1971, Pat took up as a contractor in the former Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and introduced his fledgling family to world travel and cultural opportunities.

Over the following decades, Pat was a rancher, a businessman, a salesman, and even a Golfsmith – having both worked at and owned companies of his own. He called Yuma, Arizona, home for over a decade and found adventures just miles down the road in places such as Algodones and El Golfo in Baja California, Mexico. Retiring in Mexico, Pat managed both an RV Resort and a Cantina. Pat remarried a local Gulfina, Ophelia Espinosa, and assisted in raising her two daughters, Chelly and Angela.

After a significant medical event, Pat relocated in May 2014 to reside in Beaufort, South Carolina, with his son, Paddy, and his wife, Mary Jane. Pat Dill loved life and was loved by a massive following of friends and family spanning States, Provinces, and Continents.

The love of his family gave way to an additional 9 years and 9 months of “death-defying” adventures.

Pat is survived by his former wife, Janice Chiasson, of Nova Scotia, son Walter Patrick “Paddy” Dill, Jr. and Mary Jane, of Beaufort, daughter Colleen and Jon of Alaska, daughter Susanne of Montana, daughter Chelly of Mexicali and daughter Angela of El Golfo; ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife, Ofelia Espinoza, his parents, Edwin and Verna Dill, and his brother, Frank Dill.

Patricio, Pat, Paddy Sr, Dad, Daddo or Grand Papa… whatever name you referred to him, insisted not to make a fuss over a funeral. In 84 years of life, there are intentional gaps in this chronology. Please visit the online memorial in which you, his best friends, and other family members may elaborate on your stories and your memories of him.

Click this link to view additional details about Walter's Services: https://my.gather.app/remember/walter-dill-2023.