A love story lasting 66 years
George was born Sept. 16, 1915, in Perth Andover, N.B., the middle of three boys to Albert Whitlock and Hazel (Bell). His father died in 1918 of influenza, leaving his mother with three small sons to raise. She moved to Woodstock, N.B., and remarried when George was still a boy, giving George four more siblings.
Norma was born July 22, 1924, in Woodstock, N.B., the middle child of seven (an older sister, a younger sister, two older brothers, two younger brothers). Her older brothers were best friends with a young man named George. George declared that someday he was going to marry Norma.
The war intervened. George went overseas in 1942, and spent the rest of the war in Scotland and England. There were many love letters exchanged. On his return to Canada in 1945, he made good his earlier declaration and he and Norma were married on Sept. 16, 1945. Much to his disappointment, he was given a medical discharge from the RCAF and joined Canada Customs and Excise (now Canada Revenue Agency). His career took him from border crossing agent at Houlton Road, N.B. (Woodstock), to head office in Ottawa, where he stayed until he retired not one day short of his 65th birthday.
Along the way, Dad and Mum became proud parents of four daughters (their greatest sorrow was the loss of their first-born daughter, Lucy Jane, who died at birth). They were occasionally teased about not having any boys, but we don’t think they would have had it any other way. Two of these daughters produced five cherished grandchildren, and recently the joyful addition of a great-granddaughter.
After retirement, with the girls grown, Dad and Mum were free to travel. There was a succession of campers and fifth-wheel trailers. They enjoying the life of snowbirds and spent many winters in Florida (always with stories of adventures along the way).
After leaving Ottawa as home base, they moved to Perth, Ont., then to Brockville to be closer to family. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in September 2011. Dad’s health was failing, but his good humour and ready smile were always there.
They were still as much in love after 66 years as they had been on their wedding day.
On March 10, 2012, we had been for a Girls Night Out with Mum. She fell as we arrived home, and died within hours on March 11. Dad’s heart was broken; he passed away nine days later, on March 20. They were both surrounded by their daughters when they passed away. According to their wishes, they were cremated and their ashes mixed. Theirs was a love story that we all miss.
Eleanor, Angela, Anne and Alison are George and Norma’s daughters. Carl, Chris, Susan, Sarah and Audrey are their cherished grandchildren. Lilianna is Anne’s cherished granddaughter and their much welcomed great-granddaughter.