Event date: November 12, 2003
Event type: Death

Description: Kneeshaw, Arthur Gordon (V.W. Bro. of Simcoe Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 79, Bradford, past president and member of Bradford Lions Club for over 50 years). Peacefully at Specialty Care Bradford Valley Nursing Home on Wednesday, November 12, 2003. Art Kneeshaw of Bradford in his 86th year. Beloved husband of Ruth (Wood). Dear father of Brian Kneeshaw and Faye (Doug) Paul. Dear grandfather of Neil, Megan, and Daniel Paul. Dear brother of Matt (Frances) Kneeshaw and late Everitt (Lillian) Kneeshaw. Dear brother-in-law of late Joe (Millie) Wood, Helen (Gord) Wells, Robert (late Roberta) Wood and late Doug Wood. Friends called at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe Road, Bradford for visitation on Friday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Lions Service was held on Friday at 6:45p.m. Funeral service held at the Bradford United Church, 66 Barrie St., Bradford on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 2:00p.m. Interment at St. Paul's Cemetery, Coulson's Hill. Donations to the Alzheimer Society would be appreciated.

Event Date : Sunday, February 26, 1984
Event Type : Death

Description : A well-known Bradford resident died this past Sunday after suffering a heart attack following a lengthy illness.Eighty-one-year-old Thomas Gardner had been a resident of Bradford since 1918 and was chosen as the town's Citizen of the Year in 1976. Mr. Gardner was born in Newmarket and moved to Bradford with his family at the age of 16. He and his father, Herbert, opened Gardner's Hardware Store on Holland St. and supplied the needs of local residents. When his father died in 1950, Thomas continued the family business. He soon married longtime Bradford resident Rita Cook and had two sons of his own, Donald and John. Don worked with his father at the hardware store until 1962. The store was sold in 1973. Mr. Gardner sat on the Bradford Board of Education for 40 years and was chairman of the board at the time Bradford Public School was built. Other accomplishments included being a member of Bradford town council, elder and active member of the Bradford United Church and superintendent of the Church's Sunday School program for 25 years. He was also president of the Red Cross at the time of Hurricane Hazel. For 30 years, Mr. Gardner was a dedicated member of the Bradford Lions. He leaves behind his wife Rita, sons Don of Simcoe and John of Willowdale, and grandchildren Jim, Dave, Jane and Peter. Funeral service will be held today (Wednesday) at 2 p.m., at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home. Burial will take place at the Newmarket Cemetery.

Event Date : Thursday, June 19, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Stewart Scott McKenzie, a man who was a strong and active force in Bradford for more than 35 years as a politician and publisher of the Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News, died last week in York County Hospital in Newmarket, last Thursday following a short illness. Mr. McKenzie was born in the Village of Paisley in Bruce County where he grew up and was educated. The former publisher of the Witness had a long tradition in newspapering and was one of four sons born to a former publisher of the Paisley Advocate. Mr. McKenzie served in the Canadian Army during World War I. When he returned after the war he resumed his newspaper career and joined the production department of the old Detroit Times. In 1931, he and his wife Ina, also a native of Paisley, moved to Bradford and purchased the Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News from publisher O. M. Seim. That began a career in this town that stretched over 35 years until the couple retired in 1968 following the sale of the Witness to Gerry and Nona Barker. During that time Mr. McKenzie involved himself not only in the production and technical side of his business, while his wife handled the paper's editorial department, but also in his community. Mr. McKenzie became active in local politics and served as a school board trustee and member of Bradford's village council. In 1937, he was one of the charter members of the Bradford Lions Club and served as one of the organization's first presidents. He was also a member of Simcoe Lodge #73 of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. In addition, he served as an Elder in Bradford's United Church. Funeral services for the man who devoted so much of his life to his community were held on Saturday morning in the chapel of the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home on Simcoe Street, in Bradford.The service was conducted by Reverend Robert Chapman. Pallbearers were Norman Collings, Keith Langford, Bradford Mayor Joe Magani, Brock Evans, Charles Evans and Deputy Reeve Ken Wood. Brad Walker, George Jackson and Clarence Ritchie served as flower bearers. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. Mr. McKenzie is survived by his wife Ina, and three brothers.

Event Date : Wednesday, March 29, 1967
Event Type : Death

Description : Death came with startling suddenness last Wednesday evening to one of Bradford's prominent business men, when Mr. William Francis Compton died at his home here. Mr. Compton had been at his place of business, Compton's IGA Groceteria, that day and came home around 6 p.m. He told Mrs. Compton that he was going to have a bath before having his dinner. Later he was found dead in the bathroom by his wife. Death is attributed to a blood clot reaching his heart.
Born in Morell, P.E.I., 67 years ago, Mr. Compton spent his early years in that province, going to U.S.A. in 1922, where he joined the A & P Stores Ltd. He returned in May, 1928, when A & P opened stores in Canada, and continued with that firm until coming to Bradford in 1944, when he purchased the long-established Sutherland's Grocery, operating the business during the first few years as Compton's Groceteria. In 1951 he joined Oshawa Wholesale as a charter member of the IGA in Canada. He continued to operate the business in the old stand until last year, when the beautiful new Compton's IGA was opened on John Street West. He was justly very proud of this fine new store, which was really the realization of a long anticipated plan. A good business man, exceptionally well trained in the food marketing business, Mr. Compton succeeded in his private business and also found time to devote energy to his municipality. He had served both as councillor and reeve of Bradford, in the years before the municipality gained town status, and had also served as president of Bradford Lions Club. Mr. Compton was married at Laggan, Ontario, in September, 1928, to Normanda MacNeil, who survives him with their family of two daughters, Joan (Mrs. K. L. Pond), Ottawa; Norma (Mrs. R. D. Duffy), Toronto; Gordon William, Bradford; sisters and brother, Esther (Mrs. V. H. Dockendorf), Charlottetown, P.E.I.; Frances (Mrs. A. R. Graham), Mussoorile, India; Lydia (deceased); Robbins, Morell, P.E.I. and Elizabeth (Mrs. W. H. Reich), Port Washington, N.Y.; and five grandchildren, who were the delight of his life, Dianne and David Compton and Janet, Allison and Christine Pond.
The funeral was held on Saturday, April 1, from his church, Bradford United, with Rev. D. J. Lute conducting the services. Temporary entombment was in the vault, with interment to be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford. The pallbearers were Keith Collings, Robert Hanna, Robert Veale Jr., Joseph Alebeck, Wallace Holmes and George Allan.The flower bearers were James Patton, Harold Newns, Charles Davidson, Ronald James and Lester Woolven.

Event Date : Saturday, October 17, 1953
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Toronto, Ont.

Description : One of the oldest practicing dentists in Ontario, being a 1900 graduate from the College of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Dr. Charles W. Ellis was instantly killed as he crossed the street to his son-in-law's car on the Queen Elizabeth Way at Haig Blvd. early Saturday evening. Larry Rutherford, his son-in-law of Applewood Rd., was waiting for him on the shoulder of the west-bound lane to take him home in his car. Dr. Ellis alighted from a bus and was crossing the west-bound lane when he was hit by a car driven by Edward Dinsmore of Toronto. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a Port Credit coroner.
Born in Bradford, Dr. Ellis received his High School education in Barrie. Graduated from the University of Toronto in 1900 he practiced in Beeton for a short time before he married the former Adelia Maude Rose, Syracuse, New York, who predeceased him 29 years ago, and began practice here where he has been for over 50 years. He was a life member of Bradford Lodge, A.F. & A.M., where he was Past Master. He was feted by the lodge recently on the occasion of his 50th year of membership. He was also a life member of the Ontario Dental Association. He was a member of Bradford United Church where he had taught Sunday School and was a former steward in the church and served for many years as church treasurer. He has also been a member of Bradford Lions Club for some years. During his younger days, Dr. Ellis was an athlete and won many medals as a bicycle racer and tennis player.He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Rutherford, Lakeview, and Mrs. R. G. Freyermuth, Iowa, and two grandchildren, Janet and Charles Freyermuth. He was predeceased by two brothers, Aubrey and Bert, and his only sister, Mrs. W. A. Pringle (Mabel). Dr. Ellis had given valued service to this municipality having served on the Board of Education and the Board of Health for a number of years. Through his long years of practice Dr. Ellis was one of the best known residents of the area. Possessing very definite opinions and the strictest code of honour and honesty of purpose himself, he expected the same high standards from those with whom he did business. His friends, especially in later years, were largely those who had been his patients over a long term of years, and a few of the older residents, and his tragic death was learned with sorrow by them all. A private funeral was held yesterday afternoon from his home, under Masonic auspices, with services being conducted by Rev. F. G. MacTavish. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Bradford.