December 7, 2022
In loving memory ~
Walter (Walt) Ostin passed away peacefully in Ladysmith B.C. at the age of 89 on December 7th, 2022. He was predeceased by his son Michael Ostin; survived by Pat Weller, mother of his children; daughter Wendy and son-in-law Lance Fetchk;, his grandchildren Noelle Fetchko, Sasha Sumpter & Naomi Johnson and their spouses; and great grandchildren Reilly, Ruby, Brad, Luke, Melody, Logan, Allison, Jack & Bella.
Walt was born in Arran, Saskatchewan in 1933 and later his family moved to Kamsack, Saskatchewan in 1953. He moved to Calgary in 1956 and lived with his Uncle Walter and worked Great West Steel, City of Calgary and a water softening company. In 1964 he started a welding apprenticeship at Flex-Steel, a tracked vehicle manufacturer. After getting his welding plus welding pressure tickets, he started working construction jobs for Plumbers Pipefitting Union in Alberta.
Walt loved his guitar and country music and played the Calgary Stampede with his band.
After construction jobs slowed down in Alberta, our family moved to Gold River on Vancouver Island where he worked as a welder at the pulp mill. A year later he took a job in Crofton at the Fletcher Challenge Pulp Mill. After 5 years Walt went back to construction jobs.
It wasn't until Walt retired, did he find his true passion in the early 1990's as a Master Leather Craftsman in his shop in Cobble Hill. He loved shooting at the range and making gun holsters, rigs, scabbards and belts and he made friends through his leather work.
One of his replica old west gun holsters is on display in the Roy Rogers Museum and many holsters were featured in the Guns & Ammo magazines.
This Cowboy will be greatly missed by his family & never forgotten.
Many thanks to the Oyster Harbour Seniors Home staff for their loving care of dad for the past 3 years.