Ab was born on 26 March 1913 at 195 Spence Street, in Winnipeg, MN.
Ab's family moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1915 for a short time, and then moved to Peterborough, ON, in 1917.
He was 7 years old before going to kindergarten in 1920. He was too young in grade 7 at 11 years old to join cadets so he took a sewing class with all the girls but got into so much trouble, he was put into a study class. He went through Public School to grade 8 in five years. He picked strawberries before going to school to earn extra money. He always was an early riser.
The family moved to St. Vital, near Winnipeg, MN in the summer of 1924, into a house at the rear of Later Street, with Aunt Vi Kempton.
In September 1925, Ab went to Norberry School for grade eight. They lived on Fredrick Street in St. Vital. He burned his hands so badly from a roll of "caps" catching on fire he couldn't write his grade eight exams but he was passed anyway. He started High School but the family was quarantined for seven months with scarlet fever. He studied at home for a while but had to give it up.
He caddied on Niakwa Golf Course in Winnipeg and became the Pro's assistant, working in the Pro Shop. He bought balls from the caddies for 35 cents and sold them for 50 cents in the Pro shop. He sold "Ladies Home Journal" in Ft. Rouge, across the Red River from Winnipeg. He crossed over the ice on the river because it was shorter than going around to cross over the bridge, even though it was dangerous.
The family moved to Vancouver in 1927 in Aunt Vi Kempton's 1926 McLaughlin Buick with a trailer behind. There were three adults, six kids, a dog, and a cat they picked up in California. The trailer was made from a double-bed frame with an axle attached and a canvass top like the old covered wagons. They had two couches in the trailer to sit on. They carried two large milk pails, one with water and one with milk for the kids. They had to set up a tent at night to sleep in while they were travelling. Some of the kids slept in the trailer. They had to go down through Albicurqui, New Mexico to get through the Rockies. They couldn't get through the passes because of the snow. They travelled through 11 states on their journey from Winnipeg to Vancouver.
When they first moved to Vancouver, they lived in a motel on Earles Road and Kingsway; Ab went to John Oliver High School for a short time in Mr. Ward's advanced class.
Ab moved onto a chicken farm at Qualicum Beach in the summer of 1928, with his aunt, Vi Kempton, and his brother, Norman. He caddied at the Golf Club and gave lessons to beginners. While caddying, he met the manager of the Qualicum Beach Hotel, who gave him a job as a bellhop and Norman a job as a busboy. In 1936 he got his Steam Engineering Ticket and ran the heating for the hotel as well as bell hopping. He made $50 per month instead of $25 for only bell hopping. He made most of his money in tips and took home $400 that summer. In the off season he borrowed a boat and caught fish which he traded for food (bacon, milk, cheese, etc.) with Sandy, the local butcher. Ab lived in a shack behind Ted Pengally's place.
In 1934, the family lived at 2150 E 40th Avenue and Victoria Street in Vancouver. Ab's dad delivered milk around Prior Street in Vancouver for Fraser Valley Milk Producers.
In 1938, Ab and the family lived at 1710 Dunbar St. and worked for Evans, Coleman & Evans Ltd. "humping" coal and loading cement sacks onto flatdeck cars. He also worked for British Wire Ropes Ltd. on Granville Island.
The day Canada declared war, on 19 September 1939; he joined the 10th Fortress Signals, Royal Canadian Corp of Signals, with his brother, Ken, who went to Prince Rupert. Ab was billeted at the old Hotel Vancouver at Granville & Georgia and later moved to the Seaforth Armoury, near the Burrard Bridge, then over to West Vancouver, under the Lions Gate Bridge. The medals Ab received were: the Volunteer Medal, '39-'45 Star, and the Victory Medal. He was discharged on 24 January 1945.
Ab and Phyl were married at Ryerson United Church, Vancouver, BC; with Dr. E.D. Braden officiating. They had a certificate that stated they were married on Monday, 18 December 1939, signed by Dr. E.D. Braden. The Church Register states they were married 18 July 1940. It was a whirlwind marriage that lasted 50 years.
Before Ab and Phyl married, Ab was living at 1710 Dunbar St., Vancouver with his mother. After they were married, they moved to 6020 Vine Street with Gram Smith, then onto McDonald St. with the Rolstons. They then rented a house at 2021 Vine Street, near 5th Avenue, from 1940 to 1941, when Carolyn came along; moved to 2294 W 5th Avenue from 1941 to 1945, when Allen appeared; and 3717 Blenheim Street in 1945. They built their first home at 6051 Larch Street, in Kerrisdale, and lived there from 1946 until 1954. Ab joined the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, Grand Lodge of British Columbia with Ralph Ballam, a neighbour across the street.
After the war, Ab went to work for Canadian Telephone & Supplies (CT&S) on 11 April 1945, where he worked as an Equipment Installer. During this time he travelled frequently throughout the province. He then transferred to BC Tel where he worked as a PBX Repairman in the Repair Shop in Burnaby until his retirement on 28 October 1977, after over 32 years.
In 1954 they moved into a larger house at 6330 Cypress Street, also in Kerrisdale. This was a huge house with leaded glass windows in the door leading into the living room. There was swinging door between the kitchen and the dining room, which was big enough to have a 12 seat dining table, which mom inherited from her mother when she died. The kids were only allowed in these rooms during special occasions. The upstairs bedrooms were huge, with closets as big as most bedrooms.
In 1958, he was diagnosed with cancer of the bowel. After they removed the cancer by giving him a colostomy, he survived for almost 40 years. They moved to 928 Pinewell Crescent (Later changed to 9280 Pinewell Crescent), in Richmond, in February 1959. Allen didn’t want to change schools so Ab drove him to school in Vancouver every morning so he could graduate in June 1960 from Magee High School, the same school as his mother had graduated from in 1938. Ab and Phyl lived on Pinewell Crescent for over 30 years until 1990, when Phyl passed away. Ab remained there until 1993; when he sold his home on Pinewell and it was torn down to make way for a mega house which took up most of the lot. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on 18 December 1989 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Richmond, with over 100 friends and family in attendance.
From January 1992, until his death, Ab lived Common Law with Emma Mary Johnson, born on 15 April 1915. Em was a long-time friend of the family, living next door, on Pinewell Crescent, for 30 years. She had lost her husband, Bert, two years before. He and Em moved into an apartment at 120 - 7435 Moffat Road in 1993. They lived there until 1996, when he passed away. For the last year and a half, Ab and Em had trouble looking after themselves, so the DVA paid for a woman to live with them on a 24 hour live-in basis rather than live in a senior's home. Ab died of pneumonia on 20 December 1996 in Richmond General Hospital after he had a fall that broke his hip a month earlier; he was also diagnosed with lung cancer while he was in the hospital. While he was in the hospital, Em moved into a senior's home.
Ab was cremated and his remains were put in the Niche Wall at the Vancouver Crematorium in Mountain View Cemetery at 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, along with a memorial to his wife, Phyl. Emma Johnson passed away on 21 Nov 2005 at the senior’s home. At her request, she had no funeral service.
5. Phyllis Lenore Rolston SMITH
Phyl was born at Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver, BC. The family lived at 666 W 17 Avenue, at the time of her birth. Later, they moved to 6020 Vine Street where she lived until after she married Ab.
She went to Maple Grove Elementary School, Point Grey Junior High School, and Magee High School, all in Vancouver, BC. She graduated in June 1938.
She worked at BC Telephone Co. in Kerrisdale, as a Telephone Operator; Birks Ltd. in downtown Vancouver, as a clerk; and Vanity Hosiery and Lingerie Ltd. in Kerrisdale, as a clerk.
She was an active member in the Ladies Auxillery of the Steveston Army, Navy, and Airforce Veterans Legion, Branch 284, Richmond, BC.
Phyl died of cancer in Richmond General Hospital. There was a memorial service for her in the chapel of the Richmond Funeral Home with Rev. J.D. Murdoch officiating. She was cremated and her ashes were spread on Makaha Beach Hawaii, USA by Bonny Duford (Stephanco), of Richmond, BC, a close friend of my sister, Valerie. We made a memorial for her along with her husband, Ab, in the Niche Wall at the Vancouver Crematorium in Mountain View Cemetery. Ab and Phyl spent several years vacationing at Makaha and Ab felt that she would like to rest there.
The source of information was Claudina Henderson, his wife.
West Wentworth was known as Henderson Settlement in Cumberland County, NS.
He was baptized on 28 Dec 1942 in Amherst, Cumberland, NS (St Charles Roman Catholic Church). He Converted to the Roman Catholic Religion on 28 Dec 1942 in Amherst, Cumberland, NS (St Charles Roman Catholic Church).
He died in a Logging Accident on 17 Jun 1968 in Lac La Hache, BC, where he had worked in the logging business as a faller since he came to BC in 1958. He was buried on 21 Jun 1968 in Williams Lake, BC.
Williams Lake Tribune Williams Lake, BC
Monday, June 17th, 1968
Industrial mishap falls lumberman - An industrial accident near Lac La Hache has taken the life of Myron Henderson. He was a member of Lac La Hache B.P.O.E. He is survived by his wife Claudine, four sons, Donald, Roger, Richard, and Larry at home, two daughters Mrs. Allen Yelland and Mrs. Judy Stinson both of Vancouver, his mother, Mrs. Minnie Henderson Nova Scotia, two brothers, three sisters and one grandchild. He was predeceased by a son Bobbie in 1966. Father H. H. Bourne conducted prayers at St. Joan of Arc Church Thursday evening. Mass was said Friday morning followed by interment in the Williams Lake Municipal Cemetery. Gregory's Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.A story told by my Dad, Myron. He went to a chruch meeting regarding a vote to install a fence around the graveyard at Street Ridge Church (Wentworth) NS. When the vote was taken, Bill Mulroney voted NO! He said, "The dead can't get out and the living do not want in, so why spend money on a fence".
Mom and I went to Nova Scotia in 1991 and stopped at the Little Church. Yes, the graveyard was fenced.Another story told by my Dad. A bunch of guys were at an awake and Bill Mulroney got drunk and passed out. The grave was already dug for the next day. They took drunk Bill and put him in the grave hole. After a few hours Dad and friends went to check on Bill in the grave hole. Scared them half to death when Bill jumped out of the grave hole and hollared "Resurrection day and I am the only guy up".