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Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario. |
Harold Davidson Ghent
1914 - 2010 (95 years)-
Name Harold Davidson Ghent Born 21 May 1914 Mount Forest, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada 
[1] Gender Male Eby ID Number Waterloo-338222 Died 28 Feb 2010 Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [1] Buried Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [1] Person ID I338222 Generations Last Modified 6 Apr 2024
Family Alice Effie Brown, b. 1922, , Ontario, Canada , d. 13 Oct 2007, , Ontario, Canada (Age 85 years) Married 26 Jul 1946 Last Modified 7 Apr 2024 Family ID F247590 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Notes - GHENT, Harold Davidson 1914 - 2010 His wish was finally granted "to go home to see Jesus and Alice" on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at Fairview Mennonite Home in Cambridge, surrounded by his loving family and caring staff. Together Harold and his wife Alice raised eight children (two and a half-dozen as Alice would say). When asked "Eight children? How did you do it?" Dad would reply with a grin, "We called it co-operation." Loving father of Jo Ann Brown (Martin), Cambridge; Dawn Powell (John), Kelowna B.C.; John (Janice), Oakville; Doug (Sharon), Petersburg; Hugh (Claire), Deep River; Paul (Liz), Peru; Nancy Snyers (Jean Pierre), Belgium; and Barbie Vlasov (John), St. George. Proud grandfather of 27 and great-grandpa of 17. Harold was born and raised in Mount Forest and held the 6th (Concession) of Arthur close to his heart. Although his formal education finished at Grade nine, he never stopped learning. Very well-read, he'd carry on spirited debates wherever life took him - in barnyards, on the rails or in the lumber camps of Northern Ontario. Serving overseas for six years during the Second World War, he marched through Sicily as part of the 1st Canadian Army (Royal Canadian Regiment) and saw active duty all through the Italian Campaign and the Liberation of Holland. Upon his return to Canada, Harold married Alice Effie Brown. The Co-op movement became his passion as he watched fellow servicemen struggle to find their place in a post-war society. In 1956, Harold and Alice settled in Ayr and later became the owners of Ghent's Home Hardware in Preston, where Harold was a King Street fixture. An activist even in retirement, he took the principles learned in his years with the Co-op to the Cree reservations of Northern Ontario. With a passion for the poor, he and Alice spent eight years working with Latin American Missions at the Roblealto Orphanage in Costa Rica. Several more years were spent collecting and planting trees native to Ontario on his property in Ayr. On buying his last chainsaw at ninety and when questioned about his safety in using it, Harold replied, "How many 90-year-olds have you heard of that died from using a chain saw?" Harold was always very active in the ministry of the church, both at Forward Baptist Church in Cambridge and later at Maranatha Baptist Church in Paris. The last of his generation, Harold was predeceased by his seven brothers and sisters, two infant grandsons, and Alice, his wife of 61 years. Failing eyesight, diminished hearing and physical limitations after two strokes in 2005 only deepened Dad's desire to "go home". Now he has regained his sight, his hearing, his limitations are gone and he is with his dearest companions. At Dad's request, cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at Forward Baptist Church, 455 Myers Rd., Cambridge on Thursday, March 4th, 7-9 p.m., and Friday morning, 10-11 a.m., followed by a Celebration of his life from 11-12 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fairview Mennonite Home, which became a second home for them. And now they are perfect together.
The Waterloo Region Record Mar 9 2010
- GHENT, Harold Davidson 1914 - 2010 His wish was finally granted "to go home to see Jesus and Alice" on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at Fairview Mennonite Home in Cambridge, surrounded by his loving family and caring staff. Together Harold and his wife Alice raised eight children (two and a half-dozen as Alice would say). When asked "Eight children? How did you do it?" Dad would reply with a grin, "We called it co-operation." Loving father of Jo Ann Brown (Martin), Cambridge; Dawn Powell (John), Kelowna B.C.; John (Janice), Oakville; Doug (Sharon), Petersburg; Hugh (Claire), Deep River; Paul (Liz), Peru; Nancy Snyers (Jean Pierre), Belgium; and Barbie Vlasov (John), St. George. Proud grandfather of 27 and great-grandpa of 17. Harold was born and raised in Mount Forest and held the 6th (Concession) of Arthur close to his heart. Although his formal education finished at Grade nine, he never stopped learning. Very well-read, he'd carry on spirited debates wherever life took him - in barnyards, on the rails or in the lumber camps of Northern Ontario. Serving overseas for six years during the Second World War, he marched through Sicily as part of the 1st Canadian Army (Royal Canadian Regiment) and saw active duty all through the Italian Campaign and the Liberation of Holland. Upon his return to Canada, Harold married Alice Effie Brown. The Co-op movement became his passion as he watched fellow servicemen struggle to find their place in a post-war society. In 1956, Harold and Alice settled in Ayr and later became the owners of Ghent's Home Hardware in Preston, where Harold was a King Street fixture. An activist even in retirement, he took the principles learned in his years with the Co-op to the Cree reservations of Northern Ontario. With a passion for the poor, he and Alice spent eight years working with Latin American Missions at the Roblealto Orphanage in Costa Rica. Several more years were spent collecting and planting trees native to Ontario on his property in Ayr. On buying his last chainsaw at ninety and when questioned about his safety in using it, Harold replied, "How many 90-year-olds have you heard of that died from using a chain saw?" Harold was always very active in the ministry of the church, both at Forward Baptist Church in Cambridge and later at Maranatha Baptist Church in Paris. The last of his generation, Harold was predeceased by his seven brothers and sisters, two infant grandsons, and Alice, his wife of 61 years. Failing eyesight, diminished hearing and physical limitations after two strokes in 2005 only deepened Dad's desire to "go home". Now he has regained his sight, his hearing, his limitations are gone and he is with his dearest companions. At Dad's request, cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at Forward Baptist Church, 455 Myers Rd., Cambridge on Thursday, March 4th, 7-9 p.m., and Friday morning, 10-11 a.m., followed by a Celebration of his life from 11-12 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fairview Mennonite Home, which became a second home for them. And now they are perfect together.
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Sources - [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link .
Harold Davidson Ghent/ 1914 - 2010/ married July 26, 1946/ Alice Effie Brown/ 1922 - 2007/ We are not here/ Jesus Christ is Lord
- [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link .
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Event Map 
Died - 28 Feb 2010 - Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada 
Buried - - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada = Link to Google Earth
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