Hilda Garlough

A lifetime resident of the Williamsburg area, Hilda Marguerite Garlough passed away at the Woodland Villa in Long Sault, on Fri,, March 5, 2010, with her family by her side. She was 94.
Hilda was born in Williamsburg on Aug. 8, 1915 to her parents Iden and Georgina Merkley (nee Carruthers), and was raised on the family farm along with her older sister Dorothy. Unfortunately Dorothy died at age 10 from scarlet fever. Hilda attended S.S. #12 in Williamsburg, Morrisburg Collegiate Institute, and Queen's University where she earned her degree in Mathematics and Biology, graduating in 1938. She then attended the College of Education for one year before accepting a job teaching math and home economics at Athens High School. She taught in Athens for two years before returning home to Williamsburg.
On Oct. 8, 1941 she married Wilbur Garlough and they lived on the Garlough family farm on Tollgate Road. They were blessed with five children, Gordon, Bruce, Ruth Ann, Hugh, and Murray. Hilda was a busy lady tending to the domestic chores involved in raising a family of five, as well as helping Wilbur and his father with the farm chores.
As their sons Bruce and Gordon began taking over the daily farm chores Wilbur and Hilda were blessed with spare time which they used to travel to such destinations as the west coast, the Maritimes, Florida, Nashville, Colorado, and California. When their son Bruce married in 1976 they made some renovations to the farm house which enabled Wilbur and Hilda to remain in the Garlough family home in their separate living area, which Hilda referred to as their "apartment." Following Wilbur's death in 1987, Hilda remained in her "apartment" until ill health forced her to move to the Woodland Villa Nursing Home in 2007, at the age of 92.
Hilda was a devoted, lifetime member of the Williamsburg United Church, as well as a life member of the United Church Women, and the Williamsburg Women's Institute. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and she will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Hilda is survived by her children Gordon (Gladys) of Williamsburg, Bruce (Mary-Ellen) of Williamsburg, Ruth Ann (Frank Watty) of Waterloo, Hugh (Zonia) of Williamsburg, and Murray (Deb) of Guelph, her grandchildren Mark (Robyn), Joanne, Adrian (Anne), Darryl (Jacqueline), Jason, Simon, Tim (Christina), Christopher, Stefanie, Bradley, Lindsay, and great-grandchildren Ashleigh, Jordan, and Grayden. She was predeceased by her husband Wilbur, her parents, Iden and Georgina, and a sister Dorothy.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home in Williamsburg, on Tues., March 9. The funeral service was held at Williamsburg United Church on Wed., March 10 with Rev. Elaine Beattie officiating. Interment followed at Boucks Hill Cemetery. The pallbearers were grandsons Tim Garlough, Jason Garlough, Brad Garlough, Simon Garlough, Adrian Watty, and Darryl Watty.
Donations to Williamsburg United Church or J.W. MacIntosh Senior Support Center would be appreciated by the family.