My Older Brothers
Del, Ken, and Jack enjoyed a happy and carefree childhood in Aurora. They swam and fished in Willson’s creek and attended Aurora Public School with John G. MacDonald, Principal. One story which Del told me with glee was the time they caught a number of big chub and sold them to a householder as trout. Del also remembers Grandma Babcock cooking whatever they brought home and how delicious those little fish tasted. Ken was the defender and whenever Jack invited a fight he would also run to Ken for protection. Jack developed a serious case of pneumonia around 11 years of age and had to have a rib removed in order to drain his lungs. They all went to Aurora High School with J.H Knowles, Principal, Norm Johnson, Science and Physical Education, and Wilfrid Adams, History.
All the brothers were active in sports with Del being especially good at basketball, soccer, and baseball. Ken enjoyed basketball and pole-vaulting. Jack played basketball and played hockey and lacrosse, representing the Town of Aurora. All were active in the Cadet Corps and each attained officer status. Jack was an excellent marksman and represented the school at the Bisley Competition in Ottawa. Del graduated and went to Queen’s University for one year, then entered Toronto Normal School and became a teacher. His first job was teaching Grade 5 at Aurora Public School and I was one of 48 pupils. We got along well as I remember. Our only confrontation occurred at home when Del had just marked my mathematics paper but refused to divulge my mark. I was somewhat upset, cried, and Mother persuaded him to show me my mark. Spoiled, eh?
Small town politics cost Del his job after one year. Donald Webster, son of an influential school board member, was installed in his place. So Del applied to several places, finally getting a job in a one-roomed school at Hope, just north of Maple. I remember sitting in the car with Grace while Del had his interview and remember watching him pace up and down the schoolyard awaiting their decision. He had 52 pupils in eight grades and claims never to have worked so hard, nor put in the long hours as he did at Hope. However, he still found time and energy to have a sports program with soccer, hockey, baseball, and track and field. The big farm boys from Hope always did well under Del’s coaching.
Donald Webster moved on to another school after two years and Del came back to Aurora Public School. He eventually became Principal and enjoyed a long and distinguished career. He was much loved by his students and staff. He also enjoyed the friendship and respect of his peers in administration. I enjoyed many heart-to-heart talks with Del during my teaching career.
Ken did not complete High School, but was married to Mary Burns Switzer in August after Grade 12. He worked at various jobs: Sisman’s Shoe Co.; on Cliff King’s farm at Scotland, Ontario; and when the war came, Ken joined the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Subsequently he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps and later the R.C.E.M.E, the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. After basic training at Camp Borden, he was posted to the Ste. Hyacinthe, Quebec, and then back to Camp Borden, and finally University Avenue in Toronto. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. I never remember seeing Ken without a smile. After the war he installed oil furnaces and heating systems, eventually establishing a heating and air conditioning company with another man. His partner proved to be dishonest, ran up debts, and Ken (on Jack’s advice) had the company file for bankruptcy. He later worked for Lennox Heating and Air Conditioning. Ken and Mary had three cottages on Hardwood Lake near Dorset. I remember several spring fishing trips to Ken’s cottage. We always caught splake or lake trout and always had a great time. I remember one trip when after unloading the boat, I cast my line out off the end of the dock and Ken was getting the steaks ready for dinner. I hooked a fish on that first cast and hollered, “Have you put the steaks on yet?” Ken answered “No.” “Well don’t, I’ve got a dandy for supper.” I remember helping Ken build the A-frame cottage, and I remember the efficient wood stove which he built using a 45 gallon drum. Jack related the story of when he and Ken were doing some late fall fishing. It was hunting season and Ken stepped just outside the kitchen door to have a cigarette. To his astonishment, a large buck deer appeared, only a few yards away. Ken reached inside the door for his 44-40 rifle and shot the deer. All of us were sworn to secrecy, because Dimples (Mary) was not to know. Even to this day none of us have told her of this hunting success. Ken loved the lake, the cottage, fishing, and cutting and chopping wood. I was always amazed as a child, whenever Ken exhibited his ambidextrous ability while hammering, sawing, and so on. I tried to become a skilled craftsman like Ken.
Jack completed Grade XI and enjoyed great success in debating. He was put behind the wheel of Dad’s car to observe the world of a salesman. He had an excellent teacher, learned well, and got a job at Eddie Black’s Appliances on Yonge in Toronto. The war came in 1939 and Jack became Personnel Manager in charge of recruiting and hiring employees to work in the war effort at the Moffat’s Limited plant in Weston. After the war, Jack returned to Eddie Black’s and was instrumental in introducing radio, records, and television to the Eddie Black store. He became Vice-President and Junior partner. Jack retired from Eddie Black’s at 47 years of age and spent a year traveling in the U.S. with his wife Jean and daughter Jane. Upon his return, he formed Johnstone-Babcock Appliances with Johnny Johnstone. Both partners retired for good with the dissolution of the company. Jack loved to fish, loved to golf (he was good), and loved to gamble (he was lucky). Jack loved a good drink of rum and coke and shared one with Jean and I on many occasions at our respective homes. I received some sound business advice from Jack over the years.
As sometimes happens in families, the members grow apart, and for obscure or even unknown reasons become estranged. Jean and I were pleased to arrange, with just a little bit of subterfuge, a dinner at our place in Kettleby, at Camp. Nobody knew who was coming. There was surprise, even shock, at seeing each other, but this quickly changed into a renewed spirit of happiness and friendship. Since moving to Aurora we managed to have three more of these family get-to-gethers. The last one was held on May 1992 and only Dimples was unable to attend. We remember these occasions fondly. The gatherings have special significance since Jack passed away on July 16th, 1992, quietly, from stroke; and Ken died on September 8th, 1992, after prolonged bout with Legionnaires’ Disease, staphylococcus infection, and of course leukemia with which he had successfully lived for eleven years. I visited Ken at Sunnybrook Hospital on several occasions and watched him suffer under different treatments and procedures to which he was subject in order to keep him alive. I will not describe what I observed, but hope never to be subjected to such treatments and procedures.
Jean and I were privileged to have the honour of having a family reception in Ken’s memory after the internment of his ashes at Aurora Cemetery. I was doubly honoured to speak and to reminisce about Ken’s life, to “Sing a Bum Song” and to propose a toast to his memory.
We were informed of Jack’s death by a shore-to-ship telephone call from our daughter Marion when we were on our Alaska cruise. He was cremated and his ashes scattered at Hardwood Lake, where he too had a cottage. Jane held a memorial luncheon and service for Jack in her home in Waterloo and invited Ida, Del, Grace, Bill and Brenda Stuart, and Jean and I.
Del died at Midland on the 27th of December, 1994. He was buried at Aurora Cemetery on Friday, December 30th, 1994. A Masonic service was conducted on the evening of December 29th. Over 200 persons attended the funeral service at Aurora United Church. Loring Doolittle, a former student and friend, and I were privileged to deliver Del’s eulogy.
Grace died at Midland on the 24th of January, 1995. She was buried beside Del on Friday, January 27th, 1995. Ron Gibson delivered Grace’s eulogy.