Thomas married Patricia Elizabeth Macgowan [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Misc: Apr 2016; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren
• Obituary: 19 Apr 2016, Vancouver, , British Columbia, Canada; Vancouver Sun/ The Province

Notes:

!ID=OW 1475C51

!NAME:Kenneth Owen Macgowan - PER0232 PARN:Keith and Gertrude (Rand) Macgowan BD:11 Sep 1921 BP:New Westminister, BC MD:31 May 1946 MP:Montreal, Que WIF:Audrey Marion Churchill LIVES:(1990) 21 Dale Ave, Apt 926, Toronto, Ont

Obituary:

Obituary

MACGOWAN, Kenneth Owen
April 14, 2016
Born in New Westminster, BC on September 11, 1921, Ken was the eldest son of Gertrude Augusta (Rand) and Keith Campbell Macgowan, MC 2 Bars. He attended Herbert Spencer School, Duke of Connaught High School and the University of British Columbia (B.Comm. 1946). In 1942, he interrupted his studies at UBC to join the RCAF and spent three years as a navigator and observer on Coastal Command with the 161st Squadron. While stationed on Canada's Atlantic Coast with the RCAF Eastern Air Command, Ken flew many missions over the Atlantic Ocean. He also met his future wife, Audrey Churchill, at the Officers Mess in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Ken would often acknowledge with pride that Audrey outranked him in the Air Force, although he was less quick to recognize her as a more-decorated veteran than he, noting that Audrey was awarded the coveted Overseas Service Medal because her first RCAF assignment was in Newfoundland. After the war Ken returned to UBC, graduated and joined William M. Mercer Limited in 1946 as its fourth employee (now known simply as Mercer, the firm has 22,000 employees working with clients in 140 markets around the world). That same year he married Audrey in Montreal. For most of the next 20 years Ken worked in Vancouver and he and Audrey lived and raised their four children in New Westminster. During this period Ken was active in the New Westminster community, volunteering as Chairman of the 513 Air Cadet Squadron, Chairman of the New Westminster Public Library Board, a Member of the New Westminster Redevelopment Committee, and President of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1969, Ken was appointed President of William M. Mercer Ltd. and moved, reluctantly, to the head office in Toronto. However, by the time he retired from the firm in 1979 he and Audrey had decided to stay in Toronto indefinitely. While in Toronto Ken became involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, serving as its President from 1977 to 1979. Audrey had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1967, and both she and Ken were active in the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies (IFMSS) throughout the 1980's. In 1999, Ken and Audrey moved into the Bradgate Arms Retirement Residence in Toronto, where Ken served as President of the Residents Advisory Council for several years. Following Audrey's death in 2008, Ken returned to the West Coast to be closer to his children and siblings and spent the last six years living at the Langley Gardens Retirement Community in Langley, BC. He is survived by four children, John (Judith), Trish (Whit), Peter (Linda), and Colleen, nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss his wit and wisdom. In accordance with his wishes, cremation will take place and a private memorial will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the MS Society of Canada or a charity of your choice would be much appreciated.

Kenneth married Audrey Marion Churchill 31 May 1946, Montreal, , Quebec, Canada. Audrey was born 16 Oct 1922, Montreal, , Quebec, Canada; died 9 Jun 2008, Toronto, , Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

!NAME:Audrey Marion Churchill - PER0232 BD:16 Oct 1922 BP:Montreal, Que MD:31 May 1946 MP:Montreal, Que HUS:Kenneth Owen Macgowan

Obituary:

Obituary

MACGOWAN Audrey Marion (nee Churchill) d. June 9, 2008. Born in Montreal October 16, 1922, daughter of Douglas and Alma Churchill. Audrey attended Westhill High and obtained a BA degree majoring in English from McGill University. She joined the RCAF in 1942 and served in Filter Operations in St. John's Newfoundland. She remustered to the YMCA as an Auxiliary Supervisory Officer serving at the RCN Station in St. John's and later at the RCAF Station in Sydney N.S. It was in the Officers' Mess at Sydney that Audrey met her future husband, whom she outranked. On May 31, 1946 she married Kenneth Owen Macgowan in Montreal. Her married life was split almost equally between homes in New Westminster, B.C. and Toronto, Ont. Audrey was predeceased by her sister Helen Elizabeth Green. She is survived by her husband of 62 years and four children, John (Judith), Patricia (Whit), Peter (Linda) and Colleen, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. An active volunteer with the YWCA, the Anglican Church, Mental Retardation in Toronto, the MS Society of Canada and the MS International Federation. Audrey was also a member of Alpha Omicron Pi and the PEO Sisterhood. Her life was characterized by her optimism, strength and service - to her family, her friends and the community. The family wish to thank Luisa and the other staff of Bradgate Arms for the wonderful assistance they provided to Audrey in the nine years she was under their care. Cremation will take place as per her request and a private family memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the MS Society of Canada or charity of your choice would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Morley Bedford Funeral Services, Toronto.

Other Events:

• Military: WW I
• Census: 1891, Charlottetown, , Prince Edward Island, Canada
• Occupation: May 1916; a barrister at law

Notes:

!ID=OW 1475C4

3 or 4 children, 2 sons - PER0205 one son died of appendicitis at age 16

BD:abt 1891 - CEN0010 BP:PEI age 4 months

!NAME:Keith Campbell Macgowan - PER0232 PARN:Daniel and Frances (Owen) Macgowan BD:18 Dec 1890 BP:PEI DD:21 Oct 1934 DP:New Westminister, BC MD:22 Oct 1919 MP:New Westminister, BC WIF:Gertrude Augusta Rand

DP:Crescent Beach, BC - Kenneth Macgowan (1991) drowned in typhoon; Military Cross and 2 bars in WW I

Census:
4 months in 1891 census

Keith married Gertrude Augusta Rand 22 Oct 1919, New Westminster, , British Columbia, Canada. Gertrude was born 18 May 1895, New Westminster, , British Columbia, Canada; died 15 Mar 1983, New Westminster, , British Columbia, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

!NAME:Gertrude Augusta Rand - PER0232 BD:18 May 1895 BP:New Westminister, BC DD:15 Mar 1983 DP:New Westminister, BC MD:22 Oct 1919 HUS:Keith Campbell Macgowan