MELVILLE KENNETH TODD

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MELVILLE KENNETH TODD October 1, 1915 October 10, 2007 Ken was born in Lacombe, Alberta and graduated from Business College in Edmonton. Here he was employed with the Scott Fruit Company. He came to Brandon to work with Scott Fruit in 1939. From his earliest years he was involved in church work and leadership in young people's groups. In Brandon he organized three United Church groups at Knox, St. Paul's and First Church United. During the Second World War he joined the Y.M.C.A. War Services Unit and organized recreation and entertainment on Air Force bases in Estevan and various locations in England. He gave long and valuable services to Scott National retiring at the age of 77. During these years he helped to set up the Provincial Marketing Board for produce. Over the years he was recognized in many ways for his effective involvement in marketing and church work. He became a valuable member of Sparling United church in 1949 and touched the lives of hundreds of young people. Mayor Juba, among others, awarded him certificates recognizing his outstanding accomplishments. He served on the Board of Regents of the United Church St. Andrew's College, in Saskatoon. He was elected to the Board in 1979 and given an honorary degree of Divinity in 1988. Due to his timely advice he established the College on a firm financial basis. Ken's work was fundamental in establishing the Sam Management for administering subsidized accommodation of all type in the city's core area. His solid advice over the years assured its success. Ken was a great walker and when he was younger, in his 70's and 80's he easily walked 10 miles daily, adding up to thousands of miles in a year. He carefully kept a record of this. Even recently in his last months, with the aid of his walker he was doing about one and a half miles a day. Ken had a very unique hobby which endeared him to his friends and gave him hours of involvement and pleasure. He had a log cabin at Ingolf with facilities for groups of friends. His hobby was blueberry picking and he would devote fine summer days on end going deep into the woods where the berries were thick and clean. In the evening he would further clean the berries, put them in clear plastic bags, freeze them and present them half a dozen bags at a time to his friends. Ken was interested in world problems and making the world a better place. He belonged to a group associated with the Winnipeg United Church Presbytery. In his time Carl Ridd was a member of this group focusing on Justice in the Economy and the Integrity of the Earth. The JEIE group. Ken will be remembered with deep affection by his adopted families, Irwin, Lutz and the countless people who were touched by his kindness, humour, infectious laugh and smile. Something Winston Churchill said caught Ken's attention and serves to represent the essence of what he too strove for. We must make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Memorial service 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at Sparling United Church, 1609 Elgin Avenue West. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. BARDAL FUNERAL HOME 843 Sherbrook Street - 774-7474 Condolences: www.bardal.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 13, 2007