Harry Edward "Edward" Willard

1902 - 1988  (86 years)

• Name	Harry Edward "Edward" Willard
  Born	23 Jul 1902	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244707963
  Residence	1911	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Baptist
  Occupation	1922	78 Main St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Dry Goods Store
  Occupation	1923
  	A. E. Willard 7 Son, Ltd. Furniture Store
  Residence	1928	223 Main St. E., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Residence	1948	31 Barrie St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Honoured	1974	85 Beechwood Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Willard Park
  	Willard Park was named for H. Edward Willard 17 Sep 1974.
  Interesting	business, story
  Interesting	honoured, life story, business
  Name	Edward Willard
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-78708
  Died	20 Dec 1988	Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Buried	Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  Person ID	I78708	Generations
  Last Modified	1 Dec 2024

  
  

  Father	Albert Edward Willard,   b. 22 Mar 1876, Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 24 Jun 1971  (Age 95 years)
  Mother	Louise Elizabeth Ellen Walker,   b. 7 May 1876, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 8 Oct 1958  (Age 82 years)
  Married	16 Oct 1907	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Family ID	F41402	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Florence Doreen Hamlet,   b. 17 Apr 1904,   d. 13 Jul 1996, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 92 years)
  Married	12 Sep 1928	Windsor, Essex Co., Ontario, Canada
  Children	1. Rosemary Ann Willard,   b. 2 Jul 1930, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 9 Oct 2022, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 92 years)
  Last Modified	3 Dec 2024
  Family ID	F41368	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos		Edward Willard from Rosemary Willard Ambrose 2011
  		Edward Willard from Rosemary Willard Ambrose

  
  

• Notes

  H. Edward Willard July 23, 1902-December 20, 1988 Harry Edward Willard was born in the family home on Shade Street in Galt, Ontario on July 23, 1902, the only child of Albert Edward Willard and his wife, Luey Elizabeth Ellen Walker. A red-headed mischief only child, Edward got into his share of trouble early on, be it breaking a neighbour's window playing ball on the street instead of at the park; pushing over outhouses on Hallowe'en; lighting forbidden fireworks; or raiding a neighbour's apple orchard with a favourite cousin - each misdemeanour resulting in a good spanking from his father. Edward's other early memories were riding the "ponies" belonging to his uncle's livery and cartage business near Soper Park; playing hooky from school; sledding down McNaughton Street Hill and being run over by a team of horses '96 the wagon went right over him; in his late teens going to Scott's Opera House known for shows which came to Galt before Detroit; and receiving a driver's licence at age 14 to drive his father's car. That would have been about 1916. Edward did well in school, especially in mathematics, attending Central Public School and Galt Collegiate, but for only two years at the latter. School was given up because of eagerness to go into business with his father who had opened a house furnishing store in 1907 at 101 Main Street on the south side of that street in Galt. Albert Willard also had a dry goods business at #78 on the north side of the same street. In 1922 Edward's occupation was given as the manager of the dry goods store, which was closed sometime after 1923. About this time the family moved to a new home at 223 Main Street in Galt. On May 30, 1923 Albert Willard and Edward Willard formed a partnership, A.E. Willard and Son, Ltd. at which time Edward took over the management of the furniture store. His father was semi-retired from then on but usually managed to "drop into the store" most days of the week. The business eventually was sold in 1960 to the T. Eaton Co. Ltd. Edward was married in Windsor, Ontario to the former Doreen Hamlet on September 12, 1928. They moved into an addition which had been built on the back of his parents' home, 225 Main Street East in Galt, remaining there until September 1948 when they moved to a new home at 31 Barrie Street in Galt. Edward and Doreen had two children: Rosemary Ann (married Gordon Ambrose, September 10, 1955) and Gordon Edward (married to Patricia Kerr) in July, 21, 1956. Family memories include travelling to visit furniture factories north of Galt, of which there were many, and also travelling to southern Quebec to furniture factories there. A memory of Rosemary and Gordon during World War II is being taught by their father how to handle a rifle (Gordon was good at it; Rosemary literally could not hit a barn door!). Coasting down hills in the family car to save gasoline was exciting. Also fondly remembered was a family trip to the Gaspe Peninsula in search of Restigouche Salmon, summer holidays at Port Elgin on Lake Huron, and family Christmases with our large Galt family. Good memories. Galt was Edward's main concern after family. To illustrate his involvement with Galt, the following are organizations to which he belonged: Boy Scouts Association (joined on July 16, 1915); the Young Men's Christian Association of Galt (YMCA) which he joined in September, 1915; Charter President of the Civic Service Club of Galt; member of the Galt Kiwanis Club; President of the Downtown Merchants Association of Galt; Campaign Manager of the Red Feather Campaign, Galt Section, in 1961; President of the Galt section of the Community Concert Association, 1964; Member of the Waterloo Boy Scouts Association; served on the Board of the Galt YMCA, the Planning Board, and the Galt Country Club Board; Chairman of the Galt committee for a three-year drive to provide expansion funds for Doon Pioneer Village (the objective was to raise $15,000 in Galt over three years); and a member of First United Church in Galt. Edward served as a Lieutenant in the Reserve of the Highland Light Infantry of Canada, during World War II, 1939-1945. The Galt Evening Reporter, August 29, 1969, reported that the largest individual free donation of land in the history of the Grand River, a 1400' strip of West River Road lands, was made by Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Willard. On September 17, 1974 Willard Park was dedicated on the west side of Galt. A busy man, dedicated to his family, his business, and his city, Edward had little time for leisure. However, he had time for Golf and Tuesday night poker with "the boys" and time for travel with his wife in his later years. Edward Willard died in Cambridge Memorial Hospital on December 20, 1988; his wife, Doreen Hamlet Willard died on July 13, 1996 in Cambridge Memorial Hospital. Respectively submitted by Rosemary Willard Ambrose, April 17, 2011.

  
  

• Sources

  [S122] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Mount View CC#4495 Internet Link . H. Edward Willard / July 23, 1902 - Dec. 20, 1988 / beloved husband of / F. Doreen Hamlet / April 17, 1904 - [S655] z Vit - ON - Birth Registration, birth certificate (1902), Harry Edward Willard. Harry Edward Willard Date of Birth: 28 Jul 1902 Gender: Male Birth County: Waterloo Father's name: Albert E Willard Mother's name: Louie Walker [S572] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1911, Div. 15 Page 11. [S721] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, marriage certificate (1907), Willard-Walker. Albert Edward Willard, merchant of Galt, Birth Place: Canada Age: 25 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1882 Father Name: Jessie H Willard Mother Name: Mary Ann Booty Spouse Name: Louie Elizabeth Ellen Walker, residence Galt, Spouse's Age: 25 Spouse Birth Place: Canada Spouse Father Name: Thomas F M Walker Spouse Mother Name: Alma G Clements Walker Marriage Date: 16 Oct 1907 Marriage Location: Waterloo

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 23 Jul 1902 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Baptist - 1911 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Dry Goods Store - 1922 - 78 Main St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1928 - 223 Main St. E., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 12 Sep 1928 - Windsor, Essex Co., Ontario, Canada Residence - 1948 - 31 Barrie St., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Honoured - Willard Park - 1974 - 85 Beechwood Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 20 Dec 1988 - Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth