FAREWELL, Harley Elgin (Al) - April 21, 1924 - September 16, 2015
Was born April 21st, 1924 on the family farm in Oshawa, a short distance from today's Farewell Street, named after his ancestors.
He recounts his childhood as happy and one of his lifetime passions was ignited, at the age of 14, when he bought a broken down Henderson motorcycle.
Within months he was driving it, the first of hundreds of motorcycles, cars, trucks and boats that Al drove and repaired. Al was only 12 years old when his father died and he shared the responsibility of working the farm with his mother and sisters.
With the onset of WWII he left home at 18 and joined the RCAF. His ear drum was damaged in early training and he spent the remainder of the war as a Leading Aircraft Man. He was deployed to Gagetown NB, where he met the love of his life, Rose Owens. They married at the end of the war in Moncton and headed to Oshawa to start their life together. He was an early innovator in the nascent plastics industry and is recognized as a Canadian Engineering Plastics Pioneer.
While in Oshawa, Rose and Al's first two children, Michael (Alfred) and Julia Anne were born. After moving to Midland they were blessed with three more children John (Claudia), Elgin (Lisa), Mary Rose (Harry). The family moved back to the Oshawa area in 1966 settling in Whitby where they lived until the loss of his beloved Rose in 2014. He then moved to the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre where he received loving care from the K2C staff. He was a "do it your selfer" who loved a challenge and could fix anything.
Al had many interests including boating, fishing, clock repair, gardening and volunteering for the community. One of his greatest joys and life long projects was the family cottage on Balsam Lake. Al was a man of great integrity who was always eager to help family and friends no matter how big the task. Family was Al's greatest priority and he was always able to make every member of the growing family feel very special. He passed away peacefully on September 16th, 2015 surrounded by his loving children.
He was a proud Papa of Thomas (Alanna), Cynthia (Jeffrey), Daniel, Luke, Emily, Julia, William and Olivia. Great Papa of Reilly, Bryce, Lila and Rose. He was the Brother of Marguerite Jones (Tom) and the late Shirley Johnson and Mavis Dixon. Al will be lovingly remembered by his many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be held at OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME, 847 King Street West (905-721-1234) on Sunday, September 20th from 3 – 5 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC CHURCH (903 Gifford St., Whitby) on Monday, September 21st at 10:30 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.
Memorial donations to the Sunnybrook Hospital Veterans Centre would be appreciated.
Online condolences may be made at oshawafuneralhome.com.
 | OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME |
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