Members Cruising
the
Endless Highway

Robert (Bob) Young
January 24, 2008

Bob passed away while at his winter home in Mexico on January 24th.  A memorial service was held May 2nd at the Galt Country Club.  Bob is survived by his wife Janet of Cambridge and four daughters, Laurie, Kelly, Julie and Terry, and brother, Arthur

Bob spent the winters in Mexico seeking relief from his arthritis.  He was an early member of the Strokers and was very involved in the early days of the Kohler dragstrip and published several early Canadian Hot Rod news magazines.

Bob operated his own business in Cambridge as a certified tax consultant.  Young & Company.

A donation in memory of Bob will be made by the club to the Arthritis Society or the Canadian Lung Association. 

thanks to Al Howlett for the background info
 

John Thomas "SKUNK" GALBRAITH
1947-2005

"Skunk" - Passed away peacefully, into his next phase on Wednesday morning Dec 28, after a valiant attempt to rid his body of modern day demons of personal health. He is free. Now to be with old friends.

Born Victoria Day, in 1947 (Kitchener), and raised in West Preston (Kresshill), by his mother and loving grandmother. Predeceased in 1977 by his cousin, Eric Christie, best friend, absolute mentor, the man that most believed in him, gave him good purpose and direction and coined his nickname. John was never comfortable with this man's early passing, ever.

A Hot rodder all his life starting with scale plastic auto kits and a bicycle with custom colour that had a steering wheel instead of bars. Most of his formative years were spent within the walls of the Motor Lords Car Club, Preston, located in Tessman's garage where he started learning his welding skills, later moving to the Stroker's Car Club at Delta Park, Galt. There he built his first Hot rod chassis which allowed him to secure a welder's job at Babcock's through a member's kindness and connections.

Throughout his life John was much more than an accomplished welder. He was a father, a son, a cousin and brother, a buddy and friend, a designer and fabricator.  An innovator. An artist.  As a competitive drag bike racer John set many records at the national level in both Canada and the U.S. His down-to-earth truth of character and varied gifts and talents endeared him to many from far and wide and from all walks of life.  With an insatiable thirst for knowledge he enthusiastically acted upon what he loved and in doing so enriched the lives of those that knew him. In short, John was a legend and will be deeply missed.

He is survived by his son, John Jr. and daughter-in-law, Susan Reid of Kitchener, mother, Ellen Currie of Cambridge.

Family will receive friends for visitation Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 pm at Barthel's Funeral Home, 566 Queenston Rd. Cambridge. A memorial will take place at a later date. Thank-you to the nurses at CMH and Lissard House for their compassion and care. In lieu of flowers donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or Lissard House would be appreciated. 

"See you out there"

Tributes  
If you have any memories of Skunk you wish to share, please forward to Paul@GaltStrokers.com

Hello John; 

    It is with regret that I notice the passing of your father. After an absence of 40 odd years I was reacquainted with him at the Strokers reunion. We had several conversations at the meetings prior to the reunion about the good times we enjoyed so many years before. I was aware that he was not enjoying the best of heath at the time. This was preventing him from becoming as involved with the proceedings as he would have liked. He did however provide names and thoughts as to contacts that helped make the reunion the success that it ultimately became.

   Unlike myself your father remained in contact with the Hot Rod hobby fraternity with a knowledge he shared with others. I am sure you will hear more about this in the celebration of his life and times.

   I was reminded how "Skunk" and "Skip" would show up at the Strokers club on their bicycles and peer in the window to see what was going on. I being 15 years senior would be inside working on some project or other. I noticed the boys looking in on several occasions and went outside and invited them in one day. This was I think the start of their relationship with the Strokers. The club owned tools and welding equipment and I expect this may have been the start of a learning curve that served your dad well in the future. If I had any hand in this I am grateful for a productive life remembered at this time.

   I moved to London Ontario in 1963 and kept track of only a few of the Strokers over the years. It was a joyful time at the reunion when a lot of us got together after so many years. Some of this has been carried on since that time through the internet and luncheon meetings. Regretfully I am not able to attend the visitation on Tuesday. Being in my seventy's I do not enjoy the trips back to Cambrige (Galt) in the winter. We do have lots of connections there. My Mother who will be 100 in March is in St. Lukes. My son Chris and wife Evelina live on Norfolk Avenue.

 

Former Stroker

 

"Big Al"  Howlett

London Ontario

Ken Beattie
Dec 2, 2005

Doug Crawford
1938-2005

Doug died suddenly at Alexander Marine Hospital, in Goderich, January 18, 2005.

Doug was surrounded by his loving family, wife Mary Margaret (nee Fearon), sons Andrew James and Charles William and daughter-in-law Tanya. Special Poppa of Brady Douglas and Emilie May. He will be missed by his constant companions Ben and Woodstock.

Doug was born in Galt 66 years ago. He attended St. Andrews Public, Dickson Public and G.C.I. schools. He was a member of the Strokers Car Club and worked at Kralinator Filters for 38 years.

Doug and Mary enjoyed retirement in Goderich where Doug nurtured his love of gardening plus his appreciation of jazz. Doug's love of family plus his integrity will long be remembered. "He has just gone out for a puff." A celebration of Doug's life was held at Little's Funeral Home in Cambridge (Galt) on Sunday, January 23, 2005  Remembrances to the S.P.C.A. would be greatly appreciated by the family.

Representing the Stroker's at Doug's service was Gary Thede, Bob Drew, Andy Marsh, Skip Mathieson, John "Skunk" Galbraith, Larry Ray and Paul Cassel

If anyone has any photos or memories of Doug, please email same to Paul@ve3sy.com

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