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- Born on the Thomson homestead, Milly (later McCord), Section 17 Township 5 Range 7 West 3 Meridian, Saskatchewan, Canada. When Ben was a young child, he was kicked in the face by a horse and his nose had to be rebuilt. Ben rode a horse to Varsity School where he took Grades 1 through 10, the last two years by correspondence courses. He took Grades 11 and 12 at Vanguard High School where he stayed with his sister, Ethel. Ben won the Boys Aggregate at the 6th Annual Junior Grain Club and Homecraft Club at "McTaggart's Picnic" in the 1930's. Attended the University of Saskatchewan and took two years of Engineering before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. Was in the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII, however did not serve overseas. He took Pilot Officers Training at Mossbank, Saskatchewan, Camp Borden, Ontario and became a Flying Officer. He ferried planes on the East Coast of Canada then flew Harvard aircraft at Camp Borden. Met his future wife, Thelma, in 1944. They spent their honeymoon in New York City. Ben and Thelma lived at 67 John Street, Barrie, Ontario and bought their first car in 1945. They moved to Exeter, Ontario. They bought a new Ford car in 1947 and drove out to Saskatchewan for a visit. They built their own house on a large VLA lot in Agincourt, Ontario and moved in on July 1, 1951. Ben was given the choice of continuing his education at University or a 2 acre lot for $570.00. Over the years they added to the original house and extensively landscaped the lot. They eventually sold off the back half of the property to a developer (this paid off their mortgage) and in the 1980's, sold off 55 feet of the front part leaving their property 109 feet wide. (Thelma was still living there 50 years later in 2001). They later built an A-frame cottage at Sturgeon Point, Sturgeon Lake, Victoria County, Ontario. Worked for Bell Telephone. He was past President of Sturgeon Point Golf Club, past President of Unionville Curling Club and was an Elder of Knox United Church in Agincourt. In 1988 he was Chairman of the Canada Life Curling Bonspiel in Toronto. Died of cancer. Cremated. Interred at Knox United Church Cemetery, Agincourt, Ontario. The family had his name added to his parents tombstone in Prospect Cemetery, South of Ferland, Saskatchewan. Thelma commissioned a stained glass window for Knox United Church in 2000, in memory of Ben.
BEN GORDON THOMSON Obituary
Ben Gordon Thomson of Agincourt, Ontario passed away September 14 at the age of 67 in a Toronto hospital. Following cremation a Memorial Service was held at Knox United Church, Agincourt.
He was predeceased by his parents John A. Thomson in 1936 and his mother Mabel Ethel (Thomson) Hannon in 1964. Also a brother Allen Thomson in 1987 and his son Robert 1988. He is survived by his wife Thelma of Agincourt, his daughter Pat Russell of St. Thomas, Ontario, his daughter-in-law Denise Thomson of Trenton, Ontario. Three grandchildren Aliza Russell and Krystal and Kyle Thomson and by his brother Bert (Agnes) Thomson of Assiniboia, Sask. and sister Ethel (George) Rear of Regina., several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ben was born in 1923 at McCord, Sask. He took his schooling at Varsity & McCord schools and his grade 12 at Vanguard. He attended University for a short time; joined the Air Force during the war and became a flying instructor. After the war he worked for Bell Canada in Toronto until his retirement. Ben was past President of the Unionville Curling Club, Sturgeon Point Golf Club and an Elder in the Knox United Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials were received for the Knox United Church and Scarborough General Hospital.
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1923 - 1990 (67 years)
