The Citizen, 2017-01-12, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2017.
Burkholder's dedication to family, business remembered
By Brenda Burkholder
George Benjamin Burkholder of
Cochrane, Ontario, formerly of
Blyth, passed away peacefully with
family by his side Friday, Jan. 6,
2017 at Wingham and District
Hospital.
George was born 82 years ago this
Jan. 4 at Dora Lake (pronounced
Door) situated west of the town of
Clute outside Cochrane, Ontario.
George met the love of his life,
Adrianna Petternella (Nellie) Alblas
when she was working at the
Cochrane Hospital. They married in
1955 and lived in Orangeville and
Inglewood before moving to Blyth
in 1958. They had four children:
Bill, Kathy, Rob and Wesley.
In 1963, George started his own
business doing bodywork and
towing and within the year his
brother John had joined him in
partnership under the name
Burkholder Bros. They opened a
second body shop on Westmoreland
Street where the laundromat and
apartments are today.
After three years together in 1966
the brothers decided to go their
separate ways and dissolve the
business.
George worked for the next four
years in numerous jobs working for
Peel Construction, Bud Chamney
and a stint having his own gravel
truck. The call of bodywork and
towing lured him back in 1970 when
he then started George Burkholder
Auto Body. George worked many
long hours on bodywork and towing
vehicles out of the ditches, creating
the foundation for the business today
known as Burkholder Auto Body &
Towing Ltd.
Bill started working in the
business in1972 and bought the
business in 1983. Now into a third
generation, George's grandson
Shane (Bill's son) also joined the
business in 2005. The customer base
has grown immensely for over 45
years based on experience, trust and
integrity passed down through the
years through each generation of
Burkholders.
George continued through the
years to return to Cochrane where he
had plenty of extended family, going
to his hunt camp and fishing and
hunting. In George's younger days
he had a passion for building race
cars and he would race at nearby
race tracks throughout southern
Ontario.
George had the unique talent of
storytelling. He would share one of
his stories of his "experiences" in
life that seemed unbelievable, but
true and have you rolling in laughter
even if it was the third time you
heard it.
When their youngest son Wesley
was killed in a motor vehicle
collision in 1982 George and Nellie
decided to sell the business to their
oldest son Bill and head back to the
north, moving in 1983. Nellie and
George continued to work at various
jobs and spent many happy years
together enjoying their time with
family and new friends in the north.
After Nellie's death in 2004, George
remained in the north and was at his
happiest puttering in his garage
doing bodywork restoring old cars or
trucks.
George was blessed with and spent
time with his eight grandchildren
and 26 great-grandchildren, who,
along with his children Bill and
Brenda, Kathy and Ted and
Rob and Kathy, will mourn his
passing.
"Each person is given the gift of
time on this earth...to live...to
learn...to love...and to leave a
legacy" And George did that in the
lives he touched in his 82 years.
Stepping it up
Joanne and Murray Souch reclaimed their place as the best decorated home for Christmas in
all of Blyth for 2016. Every year, the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) chooses local
homes that are well decorated and present homeowners with a prize to recognize their efforts
in keeping the Christmas spirit alive in the village. The Souches, who live at the north end of
Queen Street, claimed the top spot in 2014, but were ousted in 2015 and have once again
claimed the top spot. From left: Blyth BIA representatives Irene Kellins and Sharon Davis and
Joanne and Murray. (Denny Scott photo)
Obituaries
family and friends will take place at
the Emergency Services Training
Centre, 40193 Blyth Rd., Blyth, on
Sunday, Jan. 29 from 1 - 4 p.m.
Messages of condolence for the
Burkholder family may be placed
through Falconer Funeral Homes,
Blyth at www.falconerfuneral
homes.com
GEORGE BENJAMIN
BURKHOLDER
George Benjamin Burkholder of
Cochrane, and formerly of Blyth,
passed away peacefully with his
family by his side at Wingham and
District Hospital on Friday, Jan. 6,
2017. George was 82.
George was predeceased by his
wife Adrianna Petternella (Nellie)
Alblas on July 1, 2004 and their son
Wesley Burkholder on May 23,
1981. He is survived by son Bill
(Brenda) Burkholder, Blyth;
daughter Kathy (Ted) Richards,
Hanover and son Rob (Kathy)
Burkholder, Brussels. George is also
survived by eight grandchildren Tina
(Shane Taylor), Shane Burkholder
(Theresa), Crystal (Trevor
Agombar), Sabrena (Mark Broer),
Amanda (Ryan Desbiens), Jolene
(Alex Hartemink), Chris Burkholder
(Michelle) and Robbie Burkholder
(Amy), and 26 great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place and
there will be no visitation, as per
George's request. Spring interment
will be in Blyth Union Cemetery.
A celebration of George's life for
LEOLA HARRISON
Mrs. Leola Pearl (Mills) Harrison
of Listowel, passed away peacefully
at Caressant Care, Listowel on
Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. She was in her
105th year.
Leola was the wife of the late
Orval Harrison (1989) and daughter
of the late Thomas and Pearl
(Embury) Mills. She was
predeceased by her brother Earl
Mills, sister Reta Marks, sisters-in-
law Lenora Mills, Lillian Smith,
Wilma Smith and brothers-in-law
Melvyn Marks, Bob Harrison, Joe
Smith and Bob Smith.
She was loved and will be
remembered by her sister-in-law
Marion Harrison of Listowel and by
several nieces, nephews and dear
friends.
Leola had a keen love and respect
for God's world and for everyone
and everything in it. As a young
bride who married in 1934, she
farmed in Moncrieff alongside
Orval. Leola was a faithful and
active member of both Calvary
United Church and Perth Star
Rebekah Lodge. When she and
Orval retired to town in 1973, Leola
kept a huge vegetable garden that
sustained them through the winter
months. She also enjoyed the flower
gardens that surrounded their home.
Many evenings were spent playing
Lost Heir and euchre, but nothing
made Leola more pleased than when
she could give details and history
lessons of years gone by to the
friends and family who would visit
her at Caressant Care. "She was the
walking, talking history book."
Visitation was held at the Eaton
Funeral Home, Listowel on Jan. 9.
The funeral service was held at
Calvary United Church, Listowel on
Tuesday, Jan. 10. Spring interment
will be in North Logan Cemetery.
Memorial donations to Calvary
United Church or Listowel
Memorial Hospital would be
appreciated. Online condolences
may be left at www.eatonfuneral
home.ca
EARLE McLEOD
William Duncan "Earle" McLeod
of Brussels, formally of Dundalk,
passed away at his residence on
Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. Born in Erin
on Sept. 7, 1937, Earle was in his
80th year.
Earle was the dear father of Lori
and Mark Coultes, Drumheller,
Alberta; Corey and Stacey, Listowel
and Tanya and Brian McArter,
Brussels. He was the grandfather of
Jake, Teaghan, Prestin, Lucas, Leah,
Westin, Reece and Avery and the
great-grandfather of Arkaiden,
Aubrey and Kellen. Earle is survived
by his brother Lorne, Stratford and
his sister Joyce (Dennis), Victoria,
British Columbia. He was
predeceased by both his parents,
Donald and Muriel.
Cremation has taken place.
At Earle's request, there will be no
visitation and a memorial service
will be held in the spring.
As an expression of sympathy,
memorial donations to the Seaforth
Hospital Foundation would be
appreciated by the family.
Online condolences may be left at
www.schimanskifamilyfuneral
home.com
EDITH RONEY
Edith Roney of Mitchell, passed
away peacefully at University
Hospital, London on Monday, Dec.
19, 2016. She was 80.
Edith was the beloved wife of the
late Arnold Roney (2002) and the
dear mother of Roger Roney, Mary
Lee Ens (Paul), Glen Roney and
Laurel Ann Engel (Peter). She was
the loving grandmother of Michelle,
Nancy and Michael Roney, Rebecca,
Brittany (Will), Kelly and Erica
Roney, Nicholas (Kelsey) and
Jennifer Engel. Edith was also the
cherished great-grandmother of Ari
and Charlie and the dear sister of
Lila McClinchey (Norman), Edna
Ford (Eddie) and Ellen Jackson
(Ralph). She is also survived by her
nieces and nephews.
Edith was predeceased by her
parents John and Florence Daer,
brother Robert Daer and grandson
Steven.
Friends were received at the
Lockhart Funeral Home, Mitchell on
Wednesday, Dec. 21 and until the
time of the funeral service on Dec.
22. Pastor William Kramer
officiated.
A reception followed at the
Lockhart Reception Centre. Spring
interment will be in Knox
Presbyterian Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
donations to OPAL or the Cancer
Society would be appreciated
and may be made at
www.LockhartFuneralHome.com
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or 519-887-9114