Gordon Kirby McKeown

Gord was born June 13, 1919 in Erin Township, one of seven children…four girls and three boys born and raised on the family farm just outside of Acton. Gord’s father died early and his mother Jenny ran the farm with the help of workers and raised the children. When the war came, Gord and his brother Luke signed up in 1941.

Gord went to England along the coast with the Signal Corp for early radar detection. He learned Morse Code and was an operator. His brother Luke went to the Airforce to bomber command. Tuberculosis hit the damp reaches and Gord, as did many others, contracted the disease and he was returned home in 1945.

He was treated at the sanitorium in Hespeler until 1946, losing one lung to the disease. In 1946 Gord lived at Whitham’s Garage (44 Young St.) with his sister, before marrying Shirley Kentner that same year. The couple lived at 251 Mason Blvd in the “war time” houses, later moving to 170 Churchill Rd. North. He worked at many jobs in Acton to support his wife and his four children, Acton Taxi Co. with Roy Godwin, garage mechanic at Joe Whitham’s Garage and then to the Post Office where he worked until his death in 1979.

Gord was a member of the Acton Legion Branch 197 and the Rotary Club Choraliers. Gord loved to camp with his family and eventually bought a cottage at Wasaga Beach for the family to enjoy. Gord only wanted the best for his family and his children.

Gord died June 20, 1979 and is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Acton.

A true Canadian hero. His story lives on. *Information submitted to Homes of Heroes Halton Hills by James McKeown.

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