Gordon Murray Howarth
November 7th, 2012
Gordon Murray Howarth was born in Toronto in 1927 to Bruce and Beatrice. He had 2 older brothers, Roy and Alan.
As a boy, Gordon had a fear of needles and fainted at the sight of blood, but that didn't stop him from participating in all the pranks with his big brothers. It was no wonder that the maids working for his parents quit after a short amount of time! And left 5 nuts on the mantle!!
At school he struggled with English, but excelled in Math. He often skipped classes so he could play chess with the principal. Since he loved to play Bridge, he created an easy way to learn how to play the game and wrote a book on it. During the summers and after school he worked at his father's business, Howarth and Smith, doing odd jobs from the ground up and learning about the business.
He was accepted at Toronto University into the Honors Math/Physics/ Chemistry program. It was while he was at university that 2 of his friends invited him to go to an evening service at a Baptist church. Although he had grown up attending the United church, he had never heard about sin or the gospel message. On his second visit he felt convicted and became a Christian. He was 19 years old.
When his father's business partner, Charlie Smith, suddenly passed away, Bruce Howarth approached Gordon about working full-time with him at Howarth and Smith Monotype Ltd. Gordon closed his textbooks and started the next day. Not long after, he got involved in the Young Men's Ad and Sales Club. He continued in the family business which became Canada's largest typographical house, until he and his brother sold it in 1971 and then he moved to Victoria, retiring at the age of 44!
He married Marion Cornish in 1952 and although they wanted 4 boys, they were blessed with 3 daughters, Anne, Lynne and Teri.
His life as a husband and father was filled with summers at the cottage on Lake Joseph, barbecuing bacon burgers over briquettes, waterskiing, fishing, playing golf, and tennis. In the winter it was flooding the backyard to make a skating rink, and building snow forts in the front yard for snowball fights and icy slides.
While in Toronto, he was on the board for Youth For Christ, taught boy's Sunday School, was deacon at Richview Baptist Church, and enjoyed many years of being involved with Christian Service Brigade.
When he and the family moved to Victoria, he became a member at Central Baptist and continued working in Boy's Brigade. Soon after he became involved with Camp Qwanoes, directing Senior Boys and eventually Youth Camps. His nickname was "Howie" to hundreds of campers and counsellors. The greatest inspiration in his life was to see boys and young people accept Jesus Christ at camp and go on to serve Him.
As arthritis in his fingers worsened, golf was gradually replaced with tennis and pool and TV, then eventually Mexican train, 3's and TV. Gordon loved to win and was relentless at any game. He had a penchant for shrimp, diet pepsi, shreddies as a snack before bed, and pancakes. He made the best macadamia nut pancakes and also bread with the help of a bread machine.
By the time he and Marion moved to White Rock, they had enjoyed many years of being snowbirds to Arizona, then Mexico, and camping across North America at Thousand Trails. They went on many cruises and Gordon was already planning the next trip before they were home.
He loved to entertain people with his stories and jokes, and his classic smirk will be greatly missed.
He is predeceased by both brothers as well as his son-in-law, Wes Durksen.
He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Marion, and his 3 daughters, Anne Howarth (Parksville) and her children Meghan and Kalen O'Brien (Vancouver); Lynne (husband Dan) Wright and daughter Jamie (Florida); and Teri (husband Peter) Kingma and children Jeni Durksen (Toronto), Karla (husband Aaron) Toews and their 3 children, Mason, Adri and Elly (Langley), and Tim (wife Melissa) Durksen (Maple Ridge).
In lieu of flowers, donations to The Gideons would be greatly appreciated.
Celebration of Life will be held Sat. Nov. 24th/12 at 10:30 am at White Rock Baptist Church (1657 140th St., Surrey).
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.
Messages:
"Howie" hired me for my first real job, as a camp counselor on the SWAQ team at Qwanoes. He was a huge encouragement to me. He recognized and pointed out qualities in me that I didn't even know I had. Howie was a man who knew how to make things happen and he had an amazing vision for camp ministry. I remember one day walking back from the chapel and he asked me what I wanted to do with my life. I said I'd love to marry a camp director and work at a camp. He replied, "Why don't you become a camp director?" Howie also convinced me that I could work with teenagers. I always thought I wanted to work with children and I was afraid of teens but when teen camp came up, he forced me to take a cabin of teens. I've gone on to spend the last 28 years teaching teenagers with special needs in high schools in BC. Howie was an amazing inspiration and I'm grateful for the role he played in my life. Thanks for sharing him with us all.
Gordon and I were classmates at high school. on the same basketball team. He was a very good player. Several years ago he and Marion visited us here in Burlington. On another visit we had lunch with two old friends -- Sam Hisay and John Hasler I will let them know about Gord We are very sorry to hear of Gordon's passing our sincere condolences Norm and Lorna Lyster
I remember Gord from my days as a member of the 'Young Men's Ad & Sales Club'. He was president (1957 - 1958) the year before I joined and was a stong supporter of the club. I will inform the Alumni of his passing and have it posted on our website www.ymasctorontoalumni.org. John McIntyre
To the Howarth ladies, How sad it was for me to open the Globe and Mail this morning (11/17/12) and to read Mr. Howarth's obituary. Please accept my heartfelt condolences on your loss. I remember a man of infinite patience, generosity and humour. The summer of 1970 in particular, when in our urgency to get to Butterfly Lake campground, Brian Durbano and I forgot all the food that we had packed at home on Twyford Rd. We could have both starved to death had it not been for the kindness extended to us with meals provided by 'Howarth Cottage' (and the odd bit from Glen Home Resort, but that is another story all together), and delivered in the 2 seater Mercedes! Please know that you will be in my prayers and thoughts. Respectfully, Gord DesCotes
My father-in-law GEORGE LEWIS worked at Howarth & Smith for 46 years. he lis living in Barrie , On, a young 95 years old. I just returned from telling him about Gordon , he sends his condolences. He has told us many great stories about his time at H&S. Our sympathies go out to all family and friends.