CHARLES KENNETH (KEN) BOOTH

Condolences & Memories (2 entries)

• My father, Charles Kenneth Booth, most of you know him as Ken or Kenny. Some of you may know him as Ken Senior. I am not quite sure why he never took the name Charles. Then again, some of you may know him as “the Cookie Monster,” and/or “Gator.” If anyone was to call the house ever looking for Charles it was always known this caller did not know us and was either a salesman or a bill collector. Dad was born on January 16, 1927 in Winnipeg to Harold and Alva Booth. They lived on 251 Martin Avenue. Father was born there at home. Raised in Elmwood. Dad was married at 24 years old to Shirley Moore our mother. After my eldest sister Karen was born in 1953, whom predeceased our Father on May 23, 2006, he and Mother followed our Uncle Creighton Booth to California, where both my sisters Debbie and Roxanne were born. They then moved from California to Denver, Colorado and back to California. Later they moved to Decatur Georgia in 1963 where I was born in 1964. Then, we went to South Carolina in 1969 and then home to Winnipeg in 1976. They moved home to be near remaining family such as Grandma Booth and Mother’s surviving brother’s and sister. Dad also had brother Creighton and sister’s Alva, Pearl and Margaret. Our mother Shirley Elaine Moore Booth predeceased father in 1991 at the young age of 61. Our father was a very outgoing extroverted gentleman. He loved to play cards and golf. He loved to play any and all sorts of sports and games such as bowling, shuffle board and curling. Our dad met Jean here at the legion hall by joining her shuffleboard team and she became father’s second wife in 1994 and they were also married here. Dad was very fortunate to find the second love of his life as he was so outgoing he could have not survived alone in the world for as long as he did. Without the love and care of our step mother Jean. Our father was a very avid skier and was Manitoba Amateur Champion in all four categories: Slalom cross country downhill and jumping. He also helped to form the Winnipeg Canoe Club and the Kildonan Ski club which is now the Winnipeg Ski Club. He was on his way to the Winter Olympics of 1952 when he and a few ski buddies played a game of Follow the Leader off of the groomed slopes of the hill. Father, of course, the leader had a spill and broke his leg which broke both bones in his left leg. He was in a full cast right to his hip and still went skiing. He also won medals for canoeing. He taught me to ski on the Red River Floodway as he learned to ski on the banks of the Red River . Father taught me many things . Most important he always wanted me to be polite and a gentleman. He was a patient teacher. If I was defiant he would always tell me twice but the third time look out. Father was a great teacher to all of us kids. As a young boy, and through his teen years, Dad would spend summers at Victoria Beach at the family cabin. Dad loved anything to do with the outdoors. He was a great swimmer and diver, he loved to sail, although he never owned a sailboat. He could make a sail out of almost anything and sail his canoe across the lake. In his golden years, he became an umpire and also a referee keeping himself active in sports. Dad was a sheet metal worker for most of his life. He also loved to do woodworking and furniture refinishing. He w as President of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 511 here in Winnipeg. Father was trained in St. John’s Ambulance First Aid and has saved a few men’s life because of it . Dad always keep calm cool and collected in the face of danger. Dad was always a “Chatty Kathy.” He could start a conversation with anybody, anywhere, anytime. And indulged himself at almost every opportunity . He had a real zest for life. He was involved with the After Sixties Club at the Legion. He was always keeping himself busy and often claimed to be busier in retirement than he was during his working life. My sister’s and I, and extended family, will grieve the loss of our father. He will be sadly missed. We loved him so very much. He suffered Alzheimer’s for 7 years or more. Dad’s last few years of golf he was a par golfer, but only on the score card because he never remembered how many strokes he took. So his golf game got better with age. Although his disease was tragic and difficult to deal with, today let us rejoice, and rest assured he is now in the hands of God. Let us not mourn the death but instead celebrate life. My family and I would like to thank you and extend our gratitude to all in attendance here today. I would also like to thank the staff and volunteers of River East Personal Care Home. Thank you all and God Bless! - Posted by: Ken Booth (Son) on: Oct 01, 2012

• I will miss Ken, his sense of humor and above all his Carolina accent. Kenny as most of his friends at C.N.R. called him always looked to the positive and was never rattled or ready to surrender. This was very evident in his role as our union rep. Kenny will be missed by us all. - Posted by: Gerald Sabatini (co worker) on: Sep 26, 2012