Harvey Smyth
Harvey Lambert Smyth (1919 - 2008) was a Thunder Bay man, one of the brothers of Myrt Hill. He was the uncle of Loraine Currie. He was the father of Marilyn Smyth.
Early life
Harvey Lambert was born in 1919 to Wilbert Granville Smyth (died 1946) and Alice Jane Fielding (died 1971).
He had brothers: Stanley George Smythe and Wilbert Fielding Smyth (died 1988)
Marriage and family
Harvey married a Betty and had three children:
- Marilyn, who married Doug Bellin
- Ron (of Toronto, in Argentina as of 2008),
- Gary (wife Pauline) of Kelowna BC as of 2008
Betty died in 1999.
Harvey later remarried to Lauretta Breckon.
Hobbies
He played music with Amelia Jackson and wrote a book about Amelia and her husband: "The Jacksons of Fort William" [1], which concerned the "history of the four unique entertainment experiences created by the Jacksons and presented Canada wide and into the United States."
Death
He died in 2008.
Harvey Smyth, aged 89 years, of 199 Academy Drive, Thunder Bay, died peacefully Feb. 29th 2008, at St. Joseph's Care Group with his loving family at his side.
He was born January 26th 1919, in Fort William Ontario.
Survived by wife Lauretta (Breckon) Smyth; one brother, Stanley George Smythe (wife Bev) Detroit; one daughter, Marilyn Bellin (husband Doug); two sons, Ron (of Toronto presently in Argentina), and Gary (wife Pauline) of Kelowna BC; grandchildren, Ryan Bellin (wife Twyla), Tracey Wilson (husband Jack) of Thunder Bay, Ben Smyth (wife Sarah) of Windsor, and Eric Smyth of Kelowna, and great-grandchildren, Kaylee Busniuk and Lillian Rose Smyth. Also survived by sister-in-law Jessie Smyth , and several nieces and nephews, especially Loraine, Coleene and families. Predeceased by his parents Wilbert Granville Smyth (1946), Alice Jane (Fielding) Smyth (1971), former wife Betty (1999), brother Wilbert Fielding Smyth (1988), sister Myrtle Alice Hill (2007), brothers-in-law, Neil Hill, Joe, Bob, and Vernon Breckon, sisters-in-law, Dorothy Sephton, Mary Trumbull, and Marjorie Frizzley.
Harvey was a proud veteran and a part of the "www.memoryproject.com".
He was well known for his singing abilities, first with Maurice Jackson and the All Girl Orchestra in the 40's and 50's, and many other local bands. He was a founding member of the Elks Klown Band and an active member of the Elks Club, becoming Exalted Ruler, Grand Lodge District Deputy, and Grand Historian. He was also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He was one of the many people who promoted Pee Wee hockey through the Elks.
Harvey was a campaign manager for Walter Assef and Jack Masters.
Harvey worked as a conductor for CP Rail from 1940-1979 and was also a long-time Union member and Officer. After retirement, he was instrumental in creating the railway display at the Waterfront, and was National Treasurer and Recording Secretary of the CP Pensioners Group. He worked tirelessly trying to bring VIA Rail passenger service back to Thunder Bay and solve the LIO problem for the pensioners.
Services will be held Thursday, March 13th, 2008 at the Elks Hall, Syndicate Ave beginning at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Elks Children's Fund or the Northern Cancer Research Foundation would be appreciated. Online condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com
— Chronicle-Journal, 2008 [1]
The "LIO problem" referred to an issue with income leveling, which was an option that he took at retirement with CPR. This caused his pension to fall after a few years because of this, which he "did not like". [2]
Sources
[1] Obituary [2]
[2] Daughter Marilyn
[3] The Memory Project [3]