Gordie Killin
1929-1988
Gordon “Gordie” Killin
Born in Toronto 20th January 1929 to parents Archie and Jean. He was their youngest son, and second youngest child.
He attended Western Technical School, where he studied to become a machinist. He started work young, at a small company called Canadian Hanson and Van Winkle (CH&VW), where he eventually put in over 43 years. It was there that he met his future wife, Barbara Bradshaw, who worked in the accounting office. Gord and Barb were married in Toronto May 29th, 1953. Older brother Don was his best man.
As did a lot of Archie and Jean’s children, and others, Gord and Barb lived in the house at 171 St. John’s Road after they were married. The 1953 voters list for that address showed the following:
Killin, Arch., health insp.
Killin, Mrs. Jean
English, Mrs. Jean
English, Keith, salesman
Killin, Mrs. Bertha, clerk
Killin, Arch. Jr., furnace man
Thomson, James, mechanic
Thomson, Mrs. Paula,
Killin, Gordon, machinist
Killin, Mrs. Barbara, bookkeeper
Jimmy Thomson was a cousin to the Killin family, and also worked with Gord and Barb at CH&VW.
They eventually moved from the family house to a rental at 275 Sixth St. as their own family grew. They had five children – Gail Ann (1953), Craig Gordon (1956), Bradley Scott (1958), Gerald Archibald (1960), and Glenn David (1968). Glenn is the youngest of Archie and Jean’s 32 grandchildren. In July of 1961 Gord, Barb and family moved to their own new-build house in Toronto Township, which over time became the Town, and then the City, of Mississauga. The family, including Barb’s parents in a downstairs apartment, lived at 1163 Westerdam Rd for more than a quarter century. During that time hockey, track & field, camping, and the back-yard pool kept everyone busy – kids and parents both. Gord helped coach minor hockey teams for a number of years.
Gordie died Aug 6th, 1988 At Queensway General Hospital. He was only 59. He is buried St. John’s Dixie Cemetery, Mississauga.
Footnote - It was at CH&VW that Gordie unknowingly met the grandfather of a future daughter-in-law. Although CH&VW was a relatively small company, they were able to field a competitive baseball team during the late 1940s. Gordie was the youngest player on the team – the oldest was Bill Boynton, a WW-II veteran who started at Hanson after he returned from Europe. No one could have known at the time, but four decades later Gordie’s oldest son Craig met and married Bill’s youngest granddaughter Joan. Unfortunately, the coincidence was never realized until after Gordie’s death.
He attended Western Technical School, where he studied to become a machinist. He started work young, at a small company called Canadian Hanson and Van Winkle (CH&VW), where he eventually put in over 43 years. It was there that he met his future wife, Barbara Bradshaw, who worked in the accounting office. Gord and Barb were married in Toronto May 29th, 1953. Older brother Don was his best man.
As did a lot of Archie and Jean’s children, and others, Gord and Barb lived in the house at 171 St. John’s Road after they were married. The 1953 voters list for that address showed the following:
Killin, Arch., health insp.
Killin, Mrs. Jean
English, Mrs. Jean
English, Keith, salesman
Killin, Mrs. Bertha, clerk
Killin, Arch. Jr., furnace man
Thomson, James, mechanic
Thomson, Mrs. Paula,
Killin, Gordon, machinist
Killin, Mrs. Barbara, bookkeeper
Jimmy Thomson was a cousin to the Killin family, and also worked with Gord and Barb at CH&VW.
They eventually moved from the family house to a rental at 275 Sixth St. as their own family grew. They had five children – Gail Ann (1953), Craig Gordon (1956), Bradley Scott (1958), Gerald Archibald (1960), and Glenn David (1968). Glenn is the youngest of Archie and Jean’s 32 grandchildren. In July of 1961 Gord, Barb and family moved to their own new-build house in Toronto Township, which over time became the Town, and then the City, of Mississauga. The family, including Barb’s parents in a downstairs apartment, lived at 1163 Westerdam Rd for more than a quarter century. During that time hockey, track & field, camping, and the back-yard pool kept everyone busy – kids and parents both. Gord helped coach minor hockey teams for a number of years.
Gordie died Aug 6th, 1988 At Queensway General Hospital. He was only 59. He is buried St. John’s Dixie Cemetery, Mississauga.
Footnote - It was at CH&VW that Gordie unknowingly met the grandfather of a future daughter-in-law. Although CH&VW was a relatively small company, they were able to field a competitive baseball team during the late 1940s. Gordie was the youngest player on the team – the oldest was Bill Boynton, a WW-II veteran who started at Hanson after he returned from Europe. No one could have known at the time, but four decades later Gordie’s oldest son Craig met and married Bill’s youngest granddaughter Joan. Unfortunately, the coincidence was never realized until after Gordie’s death.
