Obituary of Kenneth Williamson

Williamson, at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital on Friday, December 24, 2010. Kenneth McIver Williamson of St. Thomas and formerly Aylmer in his 98 th year. Beloved husband of Olive Norah (Pickston) Williamson for 52 years and the late Edith L. (Row) Williamson (1957). Dear father of the late Mary E. Stout (1996). Grandfather of Kenneth W. Stout and wife Beth of Calgary, Alberta and great grandfather of Andrea and Matthew Stout. Also survived by his son-in-law Tom Stout(Yvonne), brother-in-law Donald Pickston(Lily) and several nieces and nephews. Born in Kintore, Ontario on December 18, 1913 son of the late Harry and Edna (McIver) Williamson. Ken was a member of Knox Presbyterian Church, St. Thomas and formerly of St. Paul's United Church, Aylmer. In his early years Ken was involved in several businesses. He owned Glencoe Creamery 1937 - 1938, Aylmer Dairy 1938 - 1941, Home Dairy, Bakery and Cafateria, St.Thomas 1942 - 1945 and he owned Avon Milling Company,. He built and operated Royal Theatre in West Lorne with his partner Bob McEwan. Ken built the Strand Theatre in Aylmer 1947 and sold real estate and general insurance and eventually was employed by Denton-Vance Insurance in Tillsonburg. He bought The Bank of Montreal building in Aylmer and owned it until it was destroyed by fire in 1959. Ken was also active in municipal life, he served on Aylmer Town Council and was Reeve from 1952 - 1956, he was Warden of Elgin County in 1954, a member of the Board of Governors of Memorial Hospital, St. Thomas 1952- 1954 and St.Thomas Elgin General Hospital 1954 - 1978 and chairman 1955 - 1957. Ken was a member of McColl Lodge 386, West Lorne, affiliated with Malahide Lodge 140, Aylmer in 1940 and was a Past Master and a Life Member. He was a life Member and Past Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, a 33rd degree mason and a member of the Mocha Shrine, London. Friends may call at the H. A. Kebbel Funeral Home, Aylmer on Tuesday 2-4 &7-9 pm where the funeral service will be held in the Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 11:00 am. Cremation-Burial, Avon Cemetery. Rev. Norman Jones and Rev Ian K. Johnston officiating. Donations to the Alzheimer Society or the Shriner's Hospital for Chrippled Children would be appreciated. Malahide Masonic Lodge will conduct a memorial service on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Condolences can be expressed at kebbelfuneralhome.com