Charlie Kinloch
29 August 1945 - 14 September 2004
Eulogy by Natalie & Blaine Kinloch
Based on Dad’s great words of wisdom, you begin every speech with laughter and therefore I want to share with you some of Dad’s most bizarre habits:
A teabag must be used a minimum of 4 times or else your wasting;
A cookie can only be half eaten because it will make you fat;
All hot foods will taste fine if boiled in water for a minimum of 1 hour;
Gardening is a skill for everyone, regardless if you kill most plants and if your thumb is purple instead of green.
Charles Kinloch, son of George and Grace, beloved husband to Cathy, dearly-loved father of Alex, Blaine and Charlie, brother to Henry, much-loved father-in-law to myself and friends and this community, is a great man.
There are so many family and friends gathered here today to celebrate Charlie’s life and it clearly reflects his passion for living life to the fullest and his endless love of people. Charlie would want each of you to know that you have given him tremendous strength, love and support through all the years.
Born and raised in this village, Charlie has become somewhat of an institution to this community and church. George and Grace shared with the boys their love of this Church. Generations of Kinloch’s have sat in these very pews and Charlie’s extensive contribution to this church was done as a tribute to his ancestors and parents as much as a reflection of his faith. Ministers at this church have been very close friends of Charlie’s through the years. In the last seven years a young minister, Andrea, has graced this community and Charlie with her gifts of laughter, friendship and support. This family will forever be grateful for Andrea’s time, prayers and friendship that extend far beyond these walls.
God has given Charlie a gift of a brother to antagonize to no end. The Kinloch brothers, the Hawk and Chickie, are a legend in these parts. George and Grace had their hands full trying to keep Henry and Charlie out of trouble.
Henry fondly remembers …….
In 1967, Charlie embarked on a centennial project of finding someone special. And what a find! Cathy with her bright smile, heart of gold and love of life was a quick match for Charlie on and off the dance floor. Once Charlie’s mom’s inspection complete, Cathy became the perfect choice as a wife for Charlie. This church became a part of them and in it they raised their family. Few of us can remember when we could determine where one of these individuals begins and the other one ends. It is and will always be Charlie and Cathy, Cathy and Charlie.
Ocean into the sea…
You didn’t have to know Dad very long to benefit from his laughter. His ability to bring humor to any situation although not always shared by those closest to him. Mom will never forget on one of the first dates at A&W where Dad, a professional car roller, believed the conditions to be ideal to perform a 360o or 720o we’ll never know. Mom didn’t know what she should do other than hold on for dear life when Dad released the wheel and buried his head on Mom’s lap to protect himself. He always told us he didn’t understand why she held on to the door instead of adopting the crash position.
Charlie shared with his sons his wonderful smile, and laughter as well as his love of vehicles and may I also say his aggressive driving skills. Martintown residents have endless stories of the Kinloch boys and their driving abilities.
Beyond the GM and occasional Volkswagens (sorry Alex!) which are a great love to Alex, Blaine and Charlie. Alex and little Charlie shared with their Dad their love of tools. To this day, I have not seen the great carpentry talent that Charlie held even when blind but Alex assures me that you must always have the right tool for the job regardless of expense.
Blaine and Alex also inherited Charlie’s talking abilities. Have you ever tried to hurry past or interrupt one of these lengthy discussions?
Alex shares his Dad’s ability with numbers and Charlie has always been very proud of his chosen profession. I’m not sure if it was because of his love of vehicles or the chance to visit the dealership regularly and perhaps get a really good discount.
Blaine carries on his Dad’s incredible will to help others. You can be assured that when there is a need in this community, Blaine will be there to lend a hand.
Charlie has been blessed with his Dad’s talent at fixing things in a timely manner. It’s not that they don’t fix them; you just have to accept their own special schedules.
Charlie, you have done a fine job with these boys and I have no doubt that in these three, your legacy will be proudly carried on.
No one has been as proud as Dad to see the tradition of the Kinloch farm being carried on by the __th generations. From his contribution to the land from the time he was a child to the beautiful condition of the land today, Kinhaven is a part of Dad. The farm means the world to this family and rest assured Dad it’s in great hands.
Dad’s love for dogs and more recently a cat have meant a steady stream of pets have benefited from his love. His dogs have been his lifeline and past pals.
Dogs have also been a scapegoat for a little nasty habit of Dad’s of inflicting minor damage on non-living objects. I’ll always remember asking Dad if he knew how the dent got in my truck. His response was that our lab “Groaner” ran into it and he’s a pretty big dog. We’ll never know how the lawnmower ended up with a similar dent.
Obie, his best pal and Seeing Eye dog never left Dad’s side. Sure they had their disagreements when they each wanted to go in different directions however Dad quickly learnt that Obie could be trusted when Obie decided to let Dad lead the way and he ended up face first into a parking meter. All the strongheadedness aside, Obie to this day can do no wrong in Dad’s eyes.
My memories of Charlie are a little more recent than most of you. I met Charlie 10 years ago and was welcomed with open arms by this great man. He was quick to warn me of his eldest son’s habits and I was honored at his support and love in Alex’s choice for a wife. Charlie and I have shared many trips to Ottawa together and the strength and pure will of this man have been an inspiration to me. I will cherish our time spent together and terribly miss his near choking bear hugs but most of all I promise to make sure that his spirit is passed on through the generations.
Charlie, you have joined Obie your best pal in heaven and we trust that he will lead you well as he always has.
