William Murray Anderson Killin
1924~2008
WILLIAM MURRAY ANDERSON KILLIN
I was # 3 of 8 surviving siblings enjoying a special relationship with my Grandfather James Killin (1856 – 1936). It was fun working with Grandpa James in his workshop in my parents’ house and helping him with his tools. At a very young age my Grandpa taught me what to say whenever you missed the wood and hit your finger………”shit, bugger, dam”. My mother was none too pleased when I would run around the house quoting my Grandpa’s saying. The son of a WW1 war survivor (see Archibald Killin) who was responsible for a large family you learned a work ethic and respect for your elders but perhaps a bit distant from any kind of soft relationship with my Dad. I remember that it was the afternoon of the wedding of one of my brothers that my Dad shook my hand for the very first time. Life stories / events. As soon as I was of age, I signed up to join the Canadian Air Force as WW2 had been in full swing. The year was (1942?) and I wanted to be a pilot. Just before being accepted in to the RCAF I met my future wife and mother of my ten children, Ruth Clancy. The year was (1942?) and we met at Neilson’s chocolate factor, in Toronto, were we both worked. We did not share our marriage plans with colleagues as there was a tradition of dropping the future groom in the chocolate vat…to sweeten him up. Ruth and I married young and I found my assignment in Western Canada at the Tofino Air Station, which also became our honeymoon. We travelled to Tofino with our first child (Carol). Our home at this time was a tar paper shack on what is now Long Beach, which I had to help assemble before moving in as well as building some of our first furniture. After the war ended I went back to school, taking drafting at Ryerson, while living with my sister-in-law’s and mother-in-law and my growing family. Family, working & school made for a fully day. I worked in bridge and road design at the Ontario Ministry of Highways for 32 years, retiring in 1985 (?) and then selling, in 1986, our little 130 Exeter Road house (after 36 yrs.) and moving to a large condominium suite on Falby Court (the street got its name from a friend of the family). The St. Paul’s United Church was a big part of our Ajax family as Ruth and I became one of the founding families of this church that started north of what I now the 401 and eventually built a new building/home on King’s Crescent. Many a friend was met at this community church and our daughters (Carol, Marnie & Janice) met and married their husbands in this church. I served in many roles at St. Paul’s including; Sunday school teacher, choir member, Steward and Elder.
I was # 3 of 8 surviving siblings enjoying a special relationship with my Grandfather James Killin (1856 – 1936). It was fun working with Grandpa James in his workshop in my parents’ house and helping him with his tools. At a very young age my Grandpa taught me what to say whenever you missed the wood and hit your finger………”shit, bugger, dam”. My mother was none too pleased when I would run around the house quoting my Grandpa’s saying. The son of a WW1 war survivor (see Archibald Killin) who was responsible for a large family you learned a work ethic and respect for your elders but perhaps a bit distant from any kind of soft relationship with my Dad. I remember that it was the afternoon of the wedding of one of my brothers that my Dad shook my hand for the very first time. Life stories / events. As soon as I was of age, I signed up to join the Canadian Air Force as WW2 had been in full swing. The year was (1942?) and I wanted to be a pilot. Just before being accepted in to the RCAF I met my future wife and mother of my ten children, Ruth Clancy. The year was (1942?) and we met at Neilson’s chocolate factor, in Toronto, were we both worked. We did not share our marriage plans with colleagues as there was a tradition of dropping the future groom in the chocolate vat…to sweeten him up. Ruth and I married young and I found my assignment in Western Canada at the Tofino Air Station, which also became our honeymoon. We travelled to Tofino with our first child (Carol). Our home at this time was a tar paper shack on what is now Long Beach, which I had to help assemble before moving in as well as building some of our first furniture. After the war ended I went back to school, taking drafting at Ryerson, while living with my sister-in-law’s and mother-in-law and my growing family. Family, working & school made for a fully day. I worked in bridge and road design at the Ontario Ministry of Highways for 32 years, retiring in 1985 (?) and then selling, in 1986, our little 130 Exeter Road house (after 36 yrs.) and moving to a large condominium suite on Falby Court (the street got its name from a friend of the family). The St. Paul’s United Church was a big part of our Ajax family as Ruth and I became one of the founding families of this church that started north of what I now the 401 and eventually built a new building/home on King’s Crescent. Many a friend was met at this community church and our daughters (Carol, Marnie & Janice) met and married their husbands in this church. I served in many roles at St. Paul’s including; Sunday school teacher, choir member, Steward and Elder.
