Friday, March 15, 2019
Allan &I met in 1941 when my family moved to Galt, Ontario (now Cambridge). We were in the same grade 7 class at Central Public School. We remained in the same grades as we progressed fthrough high school in Galt although Allan begin university at McMaster in 1947 while I, not a good student in those days, took a second year to complete my grade 13. Allan chose to enrol in a new course offered at McMaster called Recreation & Environmental PLanning. I followed Allan into the same course one year later. Our lives followed a similar trajectory when Allan undertook studies at Western leading to a Master degree in geography while I commenced my Master studes in entomogy at the same university. Throughout those years, we remained close friends. I was best man at Allan's wedding to Pearl in 1952 and he was best man at my wedding in 1953.
Our lives then diverged. Alan & Pearl were called to serve as missionaries in India sponsored initially by the United Church and subsequently by the Baptist Church. After they moved to India in 1954, if my memory is correct. we remained in touch through frequent letters. I was devastated to be informed by Pearl that Allan had contracted polio in their first summer in India and would have died but for the expert care he received in an American missionary hospital. He & Pearl returned to Canada to complete his recovery, following which they returned to India to pusue their religoius calling. Very quickly, however, Allan came down with a post-polio syndrome which again forced them to return to Canada where they spent most of their adult years. Allan's physical crippling was painful to watch, but his positive and up-lifting spirit was an inspiration to his family and friends. Despite the huge challenges of their lives, Allan and Pearl had two chidren, Stephen & Rebekah, whom they raised and are a testament to their parents' lives.
