Obituary of Neale Charlton

Neale's paternal grandparents were married in Kentucky and crossed the plains in wagons to western Idaho in the 1880's. They were farmers there for twenty years before coming to Alberta to homestead in 1910. His maternal grandparents emigrated to Canada from Daisy, Washington and also homesteaded in the Czar area. Born on the farm south of Czar on November 5, 1920 to Willa and Eldon Charlton; the third of five children (Erma, Velma, Neale, Margaret and Dale) Neale attended Horsehaven School starting in September 1927 and graduating from Grade 12 in Czar in 1940. Neale and big sister Velma batched together in Czar while they attended school in Czar. For a while Neale dreamed of becoming either a teacher or a journalist. His dreams became short lived as history in the form of World War II held a different path for him. When World War II began, Neale tried to enlist but was rejected for active duty and so went to school in Calgary to become a machine specialist working first in Hamilton making anti-aircraft guns and then to Calgary making navel guns. The machining experience helped him throughout his life. In 1942, Neale purchase an old truck and trucked along the Alaska highway; trucking aviation fuel in particular - to supply the Americans because of the ongoing Japanese threat in the Aleutian Islands. He described the roads as a nightmare with few places to eat, and no accommodations. After eight months of trucking, at the wise old age of 22, Neale no longer trusted everyone he met and had learned that a dollar for an ounce of whiskey was for someone else; not for him. In 1945 Neale bought his Dad's place and married Doris, the love of his life. November 3rd 2012 would have been their 67th wedding anniversary! His three sons brought Neale great joy as they all grew up, going to school in Czar and Hughenden, helping on the ranch and spending many a summer Sunday at ball tournaments - often times with Neale as the coach and Doris as their biggest fan. All three sons went on to college and came back home to join in the family ranching operation. Once all three sons were taking on much of the farm work, Neale took up fishing and enjoyed trips to many lakes near and far with friends. He loved to ice fish just as much if not more than 'boat' fishing. Although fishing was a hobby Neale developed later in life, he developed a great love for its equal measures of frustration and fun. Neale and Doris also enjoyed many trips together with friends old and new travelling to many U.S. destinations, including re-visiting the Alaska Highway, many places in Alberta and B.C. and also a big adventure to Australia, and the South Pacific. Grandpa's proudest years came with the arrival of grandchildren. His eight grandchildren were all blessed to have him living close by and able to spend many hours with them as they grew up. All enjoyed pancake suppers in the playhouse he built for them in the yard, fishing trips, camping trips, and especially exciting games of hide and seek. He wiped their tears, taught them many life lessons and looked the other way when they ate all of the marshmallows he had brought along for bait! Each one of them felt his immense love for them and his pride in their many accomplishments. To quote Neale, "I have made many mistakes in my life but coming back to Czar to live was not one of them. It has been a pleasure to spend most of my time in this area, where a friend is a friend; a neighbor is a neighbor - not for what you have, but for who you are!" Neale died on September 25, 2012 at Provost Health Centre at 91 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Doris; sons Richard (Cathy) and their three children, Jesse, Scott and Bridey (Phillip); Daryl (Dagmar) and their two children, Keeley and Morgan; Maurice (Brenda) and their three children, Corbyn, Coleman and Callahan; three sisters Erma Hill of St. Albert, Velma Landvatter of Edmonton, and Margaret Loiselle of Edmonton. Neale was predeceased by his brother Dale.