Gordon Webster Rowe

Gordon was born on June 5th, 1916 at home in Mount Pleasant, Ontario to Florence nee Porter and Elvin Rowe. Mount Pleasant is a rural community about 5 miles south of Brantford, Ontario. Gordon was the youngest “the baby’ of their 5 children, Harvey, Pearl, Uela and George. He was ‘babied’ by his sisters and teased by his older brother Harvey. Unfortunately, George was killed at the age of 12 in a traffic accident. Gordon’s early schooling years were spent in a one-roomed schoolhouse in Mount Pleasant, where he learned the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, the three R’s. He did all right at school but found more interest in working the family fields and his father’s garage. Here he learned to tinker and basically fix things, talents he would use all his life. He had many part time jobs locally, including working the tobacco fields in season. He married the love of his life, Gladys Mary Phillips in Brantford and they literally ran away to Hamilton where they were married on April 20th, 1939. With not many prospects locally, they moved to Toronto’s west end and rented at 469 Old Weston Road. They rented the top floor to roomers to pay the rent. Strangely enough, Gordon’s older brother, Harvey, and his sisters, Pearl and Uela, also joined Gordon and Gladys close by in the west end. He took a job at Acme Screw and Gear as a lead hand and was a devoted employee for 32 years of service. You will see beside him, by the casket, his lunch pail which was faithfully filled by Gladys each and every day with sandwich, fruit, a butter tart, if he was lucky, and his thermos bottle of tea. Despite three years of army service, he never was late or missed a shift. Along with the lunch box, Gladys also rolled his daily cigarette allocation with their own roller and a tin of Odgens tobacco. Gladys never smoked. Then along came the ‘first family’. Jerry, who was born on December 6th, 1940 and, by the way, if you are doing the math, was legitimate and Judy, who was born on October 10th, 1942. Gladys was also a factory worker during the war years which resulted in Jerry and Judy attending nursery school. Despite eking out a living, which developed a very strong work ethic for them which has been passed on to future generations, the family was never hungry, cold or without shelter. Gordon always had a twinkle in his eye, always up for fun and the odd practical joke. Saturdays and Sundays were set aside for ‘fun’ family events. Every Saturday night the penny ante poker games took place either at Gordon and Gladys’s, Pearl and Stan’s or Uula and Harold’s, all relatively close by. It was not unusual in the winter time for Jerry and Judy to be put on a small sleigh and dragged by the relatives for the traditional game. I wonder if they would call this child abuse today. The game was highlighted using ration meat tokens as poker chips for the game always included Foster Hewitt and the Leafs hockey game on the radio and a midnight snack which always included one bottle of ‘Wilson’s’ ginger ale. Saturday afternoons at the movies included double feature westerns with Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, a cartoon and the ‘bring you back next week’ serial. If lucky, it was fish and chips out at the Norway restaurant or ice cream cones in the junction. Because of Gord’s interest in fixing things and his father’s garage, there always seemed to be a car around. Starting with his father’s Model T Ford which he learned to drive peeking through the small area between the dashboard and the steering wheel. As I understand it, there was always much noise from the rumble seat. A 1948 Dodge allowed the family to use Sundays for other family events – picnicking at Sunnyside Beach, trips to Muscleman’s Lake and visits to Brantford and Mount Pleasant to see the relatives. Early Christmases were normally spent in Brantford and presents had to be hidden so that Judy and Jerry would be surprised on Christmas morning. How a two-seat teeter-totter was moved by car to Brantford without Judy and Jerry’s knowledge still is a mystery. Local trips by the TTC or on foot included an annual sojourn to the Canadian National Exhibition where free samples at the food building were a highlight. Kiddy rides at the local fair and ball games at Earl’s Court Park.

A big change came in 1952 with the birth of the twins, Linda and David, almost a second family since there was a ten year gap since the birth of Jerry and Judy. 469 Old Western Road all of a sudden was crowded as Gordon and Gladys had been renting out the upstairs. The renters moved off when David and Linda moved in. Life became more complicated as the twins required on-going attention but fortunately there were built-in babysitters with Jerry and Judy. They never seemed to sleep or cry together, so Judy’s baby carriage became one of their beds while until they both fell asleep separately and then were moved back together. With two more mouths to feed, Judy and Jerry following their parents’ strong work ethic, started part time jobs. Judy, with the Toronto Star paper route and Jerry delivering meat for Dobson’s meat market after school and on Saturdays. It quickly became time to move and 21, later 81, Culford Road was their home for 56 years. Although not particularly social, they had very good neighbours including Mary and Walter Claus, Jim and Betty Wallace, Bill and Ethel Bailey, the Beaties, the Collins’, etc. With Judy and Jerry off to high school and the twins ready for school, off they went to George Anderson Drive Public School. Linda didn’t really want to go to school but Gladys decided that since she had to take her, she may as well work and became ‘Mom’ to all the kids as the local school crossing guard. Meanwhile, David was quite happy to go to school. However, whatever he found, if it moved or crawled, he brought it home. There always seemed to be a dog in Gordon’s life, going back to Tippy and Pal in Mount Pleasant, Susie, Peppy and Charlie in Toronto. Like the family, they had to be cared for, fed, watered and walked. Gordon and the kids took the lead in this. Most major family occasions took place at Culford Road for the immediate family and the extended family, including aunts, uncles, cousins. It was a major highlight for Gordon and Gladys to have the family together. The family continued to expand with each child taking a partner and delivering children. Judy and Ron with daughters, Jacinda, Larissa and Leanna. Jerry and Alison with Deborah and Jonathan. David and Barbara with Dawn and Darren. Linda and Doug with Jena and Vanessa.

During a recent telephone call with Mary Pearl regarding Gordon’s death, Mary, the only original survivor from the Rowes and Phillips’, Gordon’s sister-in-law, Mary stated “You kids had the best parents in the world.” When you think about it, Gordon and Gladys’s life was totally focused on their family. First, Jerry and Judy for 12 years, next David and Linda for 20 years, next the nine grandchildren who are all present today. At one time or another all of the children and grandchildren were held, fed, diapered, played with and rocked to sleep. But most of all, they were loved. The family continues to grow and there are now 12 great-grandchildren from that Gordon and Gladys marriage. As was often pointed out to Gordon at family gatherings of 30+, “do you see what you and Mom started?” Following Gladys’s death on May 20th, 2001, Gordon remained at 81 Culford Road for 5 years. He basically looked after himself, cooking, washing, cleaning, etc., with help from his children and grandchildren. He always believed he could do it himself, even the time when he was “caught” at the top of the stepladder, cleaning out his own eavestroughs. He also continued to tend his gardens, both flower beds and a small vegetable plot, whose vegetables he shared with family and neighbours. When he could no longer cope, he moved in with Judy and Ron for three years where there always seemed to be something going on with Judy and Ron’s very active family. He had the opportunity to share these many family occasions with them or pursue his continuing interests in sports with the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs, his crossword puzzles and ongoing continuous jigsaw puzzle. After a fall in 2006, a retirement home and St. Luke’s Nursing Home provided comfort and caring for his remaining years. He was known as Gordie always with a smile on his face, a kiss on a nurse’s hand and that ongoing twinkle in his eye. Gordon was a gentle, kind, soft-spoken, considerate individual with compassion. He took life as it came and handled every situation with these special feelings. I don’t think there is one person whose life Gordon touched who would have anything but beautiful things to say about him. There was no-one that didn’t love him.

Finally, after 95 years of life and 62 years of marriage, he will be joining his beloved Gladys. Together they will be looking back in happiness at a wonderful life and with pride in the beautiful family that they raised.

“Goodnight sweet prince, may flights of angels sing you to your rest.”

* * * * * * * * * *

At St. Luke’s Place, Cambridge on Saturday, March, 17, 2012 in his 95th year. Predeceased by his much loved wife for over 62 years, Gladys Mary. Will be lovingly missed by his sons Jerry and David and daughters Judy and Linda and their respective families of nine grandchildren and twelve great- grandchildren. Dad lovingly touched the lives of his extended family and friends with gentleness, kindness and compassion. Friends will be received at the Coutts Funeral Home, 96 St. Andrews St. Cambridge on Wednesday March 21st from 10:00 am to 11:00 am with complete funeral service to follow in the funeral home chapel with a celebration of his life to follow. If so desired, donations to St. Luke’s Place Nursing Home Foundation, Franklin Blvd., Cambridge. Online condolences may be made at www.couttsfuneralhome.com

“Good Night Sweet Prince May Flights Of Angels Sing You To Your Rest”