Edwin Benjamin Boulton (1920-1988)

Edwin and Randy

Edwin Benjamin Boulton - was born on the family homestead south of Reston on April 25, 1920 to Thomas and Elsie.  After already becoming parents to 4 girls, Edna, Violet, Annie and Emily, I am sure they were pleased to have a boy this time!  

Edwin in front of the massive woodpile!

Brother-in-law Joe Sowtis, Frank and Edwin Boulton

On October 6, 1945, Edwin married the local Kinloss school teacher Merle Lyla Cassell .  Merle and Eddie lived in the farmhouse with his parents and Uncle Anthony as well as brother Frank and sisters Jean, Mary and Faye.  What a houseful that must have been!  The farm grew over the years with more land being acquired, raising mixed livestock and a big garden to feed the family.  

Three sons were born to Eddie and Merle, first Richard Edwin, then Russell James and finally Randall Thomas.  Merle unexpectedly passed away shortly after Randy's birth in 1959, making Edwin a single father. He and his family carried on with help from neighbours like Mary Stonehouse, Jenetta Curtis and his sisters. Edna Pearn and her husband Ewen kept Randy until he was of school age but he raised his boys together on the farm from 1964 onward.  He kept the boys in contact with their Cassell relatives in Elkhorn and beyond.  These cousins have told me how the boys were always dressed up in white shirts and bow ties for these family visits!  

       

His sons fondly remember their Dad's special meals - navy beans soaked overnight, boiled cabbage, chicken or duck dinners and "finnan haddie" .   I hope anyone with memories of Eddie will share them with me to add to this blog post.  

My sons missed out on knowing their Grandpa Boulton.   After a battle with emphysema, Edwin died on May 25, 1988 in Brandon.  Today I want to wish him a Happy Father's Day and let him know what a great men his boys turned out to be!