Person:George White (107)

Narrative by George CLARE White in March, 1979 ^S1

I was 22 years of age when I completed "Honour Matriculation". Of necessity we all had to earn money during our school years to continue or return to school. Father was seriously ill at home for one full year, without any income or savings. We four children earned about $2,000.00 that year. During my school years I worked in the logging camp, sawmill, planing mill, wood turning factory and went west on Harvest Excursions in 1922 (16-17 years old) and 1923. The latter were grand experiences -- dawn to dark work at $6.00 a day and board. I saved $300.00 in 1923.

During 1922 and 1923 in Saskatchewan, I met and visited all of our "John Johnston" 1st and 2nd cousins. Frances Elizabeth Johnston (my aunt) died at 50 years of age; their four daughters reached their nineties; two survive - Ethel in her 97th year and Rhoda in her 91st. Mabel's husband, Doctor Alex E. Elliott, a retired Methodist and United Church minister and farmer was 100 years old on February 7, 1979. His book "The Days of the Years of My Pilgrimage" compiled at the age of 96, is a poignant account of their lives on the Canadian prairies. My latest from him is a 350-word handwritten letter dated March 12, 1979. Our daughter <living> and we visited Rhoda in Vancouver General Hospital last August. She was quite mobile with a walker and very concerned about the other patients - being the nurse that she was and her mother's daughter. She and I had a wonderful time ~ the Blue Mountain, Kolapore, the Mill, the Church, the School, Uncle John, Dad, mother, Muriel and many others.

I was employed in Toronto for almost 37 years - a few months with Coca Cola and over 36 years as a tax auditor with the Federal Government. The change of jobs was the shrewdest act of my life. It was not long before I was attracted to a certain spunky, vivacious, brown-eyed private secretary. Irene and I have had almost 44 years of the good life together, including over 14 years in Goderich, her home town.

We have hardly a pain nor an ache and notice this morning a newspaper item about Tommy Douglas, sometime Premier of Saskatchewan, on his 75th birthday and approaching his retirement from Parliament. He is quoted as saying

"I feel in first-class shape and I could still box one or two rounds - I think if I got some guy small enough and weak enough."

We are kindred spirits.

Our children and their families are our pride and joy -- no problems, health or otherwise.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} G. Clare White. White Family Tree (G Clare White). (March 1979)
   Page A-3 & A-4.

   George Clare (White) spouse Irene E. Abell, born 9-1-1905, married 9-2-1935;

2. ↑ copy by E.F. White, Jr. E.F. White, Jr. Copy of Rhoda Johnston's Records. (July 30, 1938)
   Page 4.

   George Clare (White) -- b. 1905, m.

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Birth, in Genealogical Research Library. Canadian genealogy index, 1600s-1900s.

   White, George Clare

   White, George Clare , 219806. Born in 1905 in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Thomas B White household, in Grey, Ontario, Canada. 1911 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada)
   page 14, 5 Jun 1911.

   Ontario / 72 Grey East / 5 Collingwood

   13 139 White Thomas B M Head M Jul 1864 46 O English Canadian Methodist Lumber Merchant
   14 139 White Harriet M F Wife M Nov 1866 44 O English Canadian Methodist
   15 139 White Muriel F Daughter S Jan 1894 17 O English Canadian Methodist
   16 139 White Leslie T B M Son S Jun 1902 8 O English Canadian Methodist
   17 139 White Marion G F Daughter S Jun 1904 6 O English Canadian Methodist
   18 139 White George Clare M Son S Sep 1905 5 O English Canadian Methodist
   19 139 White Karl McK M Son S Jun 1907 3 O English Canadian Methodist

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 George Clare White, in Ontario, Canada. Ontario Canada Births 1869-ongoing. (Toronto, Ontario: Archives of Ontario)
   1905.

   Name: George Clare White
   Date of Birth: 4 Sep 1905
   Gender: Male
   Birth County: Grey
   Father's name: Thos Boothby White
   Mother's name: H Maria Lambert
   Roll Number: MS929_179

6. ↑ Barbara Flett nee White. Barbara (White) Flett -- Update on Family, Recipient: Rick Moffat. (Nov. 29, 1999).

   George Clare; b.September 4,1905; d.April 5,1986,Goderich ,Ont.

7. ↑ Maitland Cemetery, in Canada GenWeb Cemetery Project: Ontario.

   George Clare White

   WHITE
   George Clare White
   1903-1986
   Irene Elizabeth Abell
   1909-2004