Albert "Ab" Barber

1904 - 2003  (98 years)

• Name	Albert "Ab" Barber
  Born	16 Sep 1904	, England   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Immigration	1908	, Canada   [1]
  Name	Ab Barber
  Residence	1911	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Anglican
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-387445
  Died	27 Apr 2003	Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Buried	Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Person ID	I387445	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Father	William Barber,   b. 6 Mar 1872, , Middlesex, England ,   d. 14 Apr 1964  (Age 92 years)
  Mother	Helen Godfrey,   b. Apr 1875, , England ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F221312	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Margaret Francesca Lawler,   b. 10 Feb 1912,   d. 17 Apr 2005, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 93 years)
  Married	25 Dec 1930
  Children	1. Clare Barber   2. Jim Barber   3. Ruth Ann Barber,   b. 7 Mar 1935,   d. 15 Jun 1999, , Ontario, Canada  (Age 64 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F262161	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Ab a mainstay for nearly 56 years BY CLYDE WARRINGTON REPORTER STAFF To a succession of publishers,, Ab Barber was known as the "man who worked here ... forever." Barber, who died Sunday at Cambridge Memorial Hospital at the age of 98, began his Reporter career in 1919 at the age of 14. He was closing on 70 before he left, and only then it was because he was chased by the new era of cold type. He was soon lured out of retirement by the Reporter's sister paper in Guelph, which was still compositing with hot lead. Barber's career would span 56 years, every day of it spent with the Reporter and the Mercury. A quiet, genial man, his former colleagues can't remember him ever raising his voice in anger. "He seemed immune to stress, a very calm, good-humoured guy," said retired Reporter compositor Howard Clarke. Bob Lund, who worked alongside Barber for decades, said it was not unusual in those days to embark on a trade at such an early age. "I started at 14, too," said Lund, who also worked for 50 years at the paper. "I was going to high school, in Grade 9, when one day the teacher started to talk in French to me. I said, `Enough of this' and switched to shop courses." Lund was soon at the Reporter, working as an apprentice, which would take him seven years. "One thing I can say about Ab is that he was one heck of a great teacher. He taught me a lot and you couldn't have asked for a better worker." Barber was a picture of health until only recently. He lived for many years in a house on George Street with Margaret, his wife of 72 years. Three or four years ago, failing health forced the couple to move into Riverbend Place. Prior to that move, though, Barber was a cheery presence almost daily in the downtown, as he made the walk from George Street to the YMCAs Men's A.M. Coffee Club, held mornings at the old Y, and later hosted at Trinity Anglican Church. Barber was a perfect accompaniment to the club, which met mornings to quietly discuss events of the day and frowned on more agitated conversation. He was a lifelong resident of Galt. He's survived by his wife, two sons, Clare of Woodstock and Jim of Kitchener, a son-in-law, Jack Drinkwater of Cambridge, 12 grand-children and 21 great-grand-children. A funeral service was held Wednesday followed by interment in the Trinity Anglican Cemetery. Cambridge Reporter FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2003 __________________________ BARBER, Albert Suddenly, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, on Sunday, April 27, 2003, in his 99th year. Beloved husband of Margaret; loving father of Clare and his wife Delight of Woodstock and Jim and his wife Nancy of Kitchener. Albert will be missed by his nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and his son-in-law, Jack Drinkwater. Predeceased by his daughter, Ruth Drinkwater. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. For information, please contact Coutts Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, Cambridge. The Record 28 Apr 2003 pg B7 ____________________________________ BARBER, Albert - Suddenly, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, on Sunday, April 27, 2003, in his 99th year. Beloved husband for 72 years of Margaret Barber (nee Lawlor); loving father of Clare and his wife Delight of Woodstock and Jim and his wife Nancy of Kitchener. Albert will be missed by his 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and his son-in-law, Jack Drinkwater. He was predeceased by his daughter, Ruth Drinkwater; three sisters and seven brothers. Mr. Barber began his working career at age 14 with the Galt Reporter as an apprentice typesetter. He retired at age 70 after 56 years of service with the Thompson Newspaper Chain. Friends will be received at Coutts Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, 96 St. Andrews St., Cambridge, today (Tuesday) 2-4 and 7-9 pm. The funeral service will be conducted n the funeral home chapel on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 at 1 pm. Interment Trinity Anglican Cemetery. A reception will follow in Coutts Family Reception Cottage. As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made to Trinity Anglican Church Memorial Fund. Cambridge Reporter Apr 2003.

  
  

• Sources

  [S572] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1911, Div. 19 Page 6. [S2598] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Trinity Anglican Cemetery Internet Link. [wedding rings] Dec. 25, 1930/ We lived together in happiness/ We rest together in peace/ BARBER/ Albert/ BARBER/ Sept. 16, 1904/ Apr. 27, 2003/ Margaret F./ (LAWLER)/ Feb. 10, 1912/ Apr. 17, 2005/

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 16 Sep 1904 - , England Immigration - 1908 - , Canada Residence - Anglican - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 27 Apr 2003 - Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth