Harold 'Leslie' Sheldrick
Harold "Leslie" Sheldrick died peacefully at Brampton on Thurs., June 6, 2002. He was the only son of the late Harold and Mary Sheldrick.
Mr. Sheldrick was born on May 21, 1932 in Vernon at the home of his maternal grandfather, Robert Carkner, and great-aunt Jessie Carkner. On May 2, 1933 he moved with his parents to Oak Valley. They had rented a farm from Norm Beach. This was a close-knit farming community.
Here, Mr. Sheldrick attended Oak Valley Public School. In 1937 a sister was born; thus, as Mr. Allison remarked, they had a gentleman's family.
In 1947 Mr. Sheldrick's parents bought a farm at Harmony Corner, just down the road from where his mother was born. In October of that year they moved, leaving behind all their dear friends in Oak Valley, including neighbors the Tinklers, the Salters and the Kirkwoods, to name some.
However, Mr. Sheldrick quickly made many new friends of all ages. One whom he kept in contact with for over 50 years was Grant Poole. He and his son Rick visited Mr. Sheldrick in the hospital just prior to his death.
Not wishing to be a farmer, he went to work at E.B. Eddy Co. Later, while living in Toronto and then Brampton, he studied for and passed the exam for his Grade A mechanics licence. This was his field of work for many years. He loved to tinker with old cars and at one time he worked on the restoration of an antique car.
Mr. Sheldrick leaves behind his wife Mary (Hills) Sheldrick; his former wife, Velma (Elser) Hummell; children Steven, Deborah (Oswald) Linton, Owen (Christine), Brian, Karen (Jammie) Levesque and Alan (Melissa); 13 grandchildren; sister Joyce (Doug) Derraugh. He is also survived by uncle Archie and aunt Wilma Sheldrick, aunt Doris Sheldrick, aunt Jean Sheldrick, uncle John Carson and aunt Pearl Carkner, as well as numerous cousins on both sides of the family.
A private burial of cremated remains took place on Tues., June 11.