Willard Trimble at work, between 1940 and 1969. Red Deer Archives, P8128.

Entrepreneur, photographer, and musician Willard Dean Trimble was born in 1903 to Herbert Willard Trimble and Lavina Elizabeth Brett of Red Deer, part of a prominent settler family with deep roots in the Red Deer area. His grandfather, Andrew Hill Trimble, arrived in the area in the 1880s and established himself as a successful dairy cattle dealer and founder of a local creamery Building on this legacy, Willard’s father, Herbert, joined the family creamery business and helped expand its success, becoming a respected figure in the region’s dairy industry.

Rather than following the family trade, Trimble forged his own career. A charter member of both the Red Deer Kinsmen Club and the K-40 Club, he was an enterprising businessman who opened Willard Trimble’s Radio Shop in 1927 and later expanded his ventures by establishing Trimble’s Sign Service on March 15, 1935. He continued working in these businesses until his passing in 1969.

Trimble showed ingenuity from a young age. At just 19, he built his own radio set so he could enjoy broadcasts from Edmonton and Calgary with friends and family. Music was another of his talents; he was an accomplished multi-instrumentalist who performed with groups such as the Melody Men’s Orchestra, Pepp Bros. Five Piece Orchestra, and Willard Trimble’s Melody Orchestra. On March 3, 1926, Trimble married Emily Sveinson of Burnt Lake, a talented musician in her own right, and together they raised their three children – one son Gary, and two daughters Dawn and Joan. In 1941, he opened the Cub Dance Hall in North Red Deer, where he frequently performed with his orchestra, entertaining troops stationed in the area.

His enthusiasm for new ventures extended to aviation. In 1939, he and his business partner, J. Patton, successfully secured approval for their Taylor Cub aircraft to provide commercial passenger and charter flight services. This venture provided another outlet for Trimble’s creative talents, leading him to pursue aerial photography. Continuing his commitment to local flying activities, he organized a Flying Club in 1946 and served as its president.

Alongside his many business and community pursuits, Trimble was also a gifted artist. Working in both oils and watercolours, he often drew inspiration from the people, places, and institutions of the community he actively supported throughout his life.

Willard Dean Trimble died on February 14, 1969, at the age of 65 at the Red Deer Regional Hospital and was laid to rest in the Red Deer Cemetery.