Herbert Francis Parkinson

HERBERT FRANCIS PARKINSON September 3, 1919, minutes before his twin sister in Dunnville, Ontario. Died May 25, 2010 in Oshawa, aged 90. Survived by Shirley, his wife of 65 years and by four children and their partners: Ted and Patricia, Sarah and Ron, Jeff and Cathy, Jennifer and Marianne; also three grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. He is also survived by his twin sister Helen Fairley of Vancouver and his older sister Betty Wilkins of Orillia. Herb was raised in Cobourg, one of five children of Frank and Helena Parkinson. He attended CDCI and went on to a career in textile dyeing, which took him and his growing family to several Ontario towns. He joined Allied Chemical where he had a long career first in the lab and then as a sales representative for calcium chloride. He retired from Allied in 1984 and then spent more time doing the same work for the Canada Transport Group. He and Shirley spent many summers travelling the roads of eastern Ontario while Dad handled calcium chloride accounts. He was a member of the textile dyers association, the CATCC for many years, becoming president. Herb was an avid barbershop singer and was charter president of the SPEBSQSA chorus in Oakville. Later he sang with the Oshawa chorus, the Tri-City chorus and the Suburbanaires. Dad loved cottage life, first at his in-laws cottage on Rice Lake and then from 1976 at Parkie's Paradise on Wollaston Lake near Bancroft. He was an avid reader of World War II history and a huge fan of Sir Conan Doyle and Mark Twain. Many thanks to the staff of Taunton Mills in Whitby where mother and dad had a most wonderful time together, with loving care, during the last 15 months. Friends may call at MOUNT LAWN RECEPTION CENTRE, 21 Garrard Rd., Whitby, 905-443-3376, on Sunday, May 30, 2010 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Memorial Service in the chapel on Monday, May 31, 2010 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of one's choice would be appreciated by the family.