By Henry Bury THE INTELLIGENCER < St. Thomas Anglican Church was the setting today for a funeral for "the very model of a good Christian layman." Bill Crimson, the church treasur- er and retired superintendent of business for the Hastings County Board of Education died of cancer Tuesday at Belleville hospital. He was 62 years old. "It's a huge loss to St. Thomas," said Rev. Peter Joyce, who has been church rector since 1999. "Bill exemplified dedication to the church community and to the community at large through the church. He was a man who lived his faith in every way, the way he greet- ed you with a smile, the way he went out of his way to help other. He was a man of great integrity, the model of a perfect layman," said Joyce. Mr. Crimson was heavily involved in the life of St. Thomas, initially as a warden and then treasurer. He was also active at the diocesan level and even wrote a book for the diocese, The Church Warden's Guide. His wife, Linda, is part-time church secretary at St. Thomas. Mr. Crimson also served as trea- surer of Living Hope Community Meals since its inception eight years ago. In an interview last year, Mr. Crimson said the "bottom line" has always been important to him, con- sidering that his 34-year career revolved around financial matters. The Quinte Secondary School graduate earned his Chartered Accountant's designation in 1970 and joined the former Hastings pub- lic school board as manager of accounting. He subsequently became the assistant superinten- dent of business and, in September of 1988, took over as superinten- dent of business. Mr. Crimson served as the board's chief financial officer until his early retirement in December of 1995. Dave Rutherford, superintendent of business for the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, worked for Mr. Crimson for 13 years and succeeded him in the post. "He was a great mentor to me, not only in our common field of accounting but also the greater field of school board business," Ruther- ford said. "He was a consummate professional who had a great rap- port with all types of people in the school system. "He had a great sense of humour and t r e a t e d eve ryone with respect...he will be missed by all walks of life." Mr. Crimson was diagnosed and treated for Non-Hodgkins lym- phoma in 1997 and later talked to cancer patients about his experience with chemotherapy. Ironically, it was cancer that returned and claimed his life. Mr. Crimson is survived by his wife, Linda, and two children, Robert and Debora (Solarski), a brother, Chuck, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation is at the Burke Funeral Home on Church Street today from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Funeral service will be held today at 2 p.m. at St. Thomas. 104 :