0 @NI1220@ NOTE
1 CONC Vernon News, May 11, 1964
1 CONT p.4 - Long Time Resident Thomas Becker, Buried
1 CONT Funeral service for Thomas Charles Becker, a native son of Armstrong, was
1 CONT held Thursday afternoon from St. James Anglican Church, Rev. J.R. Hague
1 CONT officiated.  Mr. Becker, who was born in 1910, died May 4 in Vancouver whe
1 CONC re
1 CONT he was taking treatment.  His grandfather C.J. Becker, was miller with the
1 CONT Pioneer Flour Mill which stood where BuckerfieldÂ’s is now located.  His
1 CONT grandmother, Mrs. T. Clinton St., arrived in the district as a young girl
1 CONT from Germany, when there were few settlers in the area.  She was among the
1 CONT first 20 white women to settle in Spallumcheen.
1 CONT Mr. Becker, in his youth, was one of ArmstrongÂ’s hockey stars and was rate
1 CONC d
1 CONT as one of the best defence players in the Okanagan hockey league.  He serv
1 CONC ed
1 CONT in the RCAF during the Second World War.  He was a member of Spallumcheen
1 CONT Masonic Lodge No. 13, and served as Master in 1957.  He served for many
1 CONT years on the executive of Branch 35, Royal Canadian Legion, and was
1 CONT president in 1953 and 1954.  Besides his wife, the former Betty Thornton,
1 CONT Mr. Becker is survived by one son Frank, 13; three daughters, Sharon (Mrs.
1 CONT J. C. Blewett of Regina); Vicki, (Mrs. Bob Dodds, Armstrong); Phyllis (Mrs
1 CONC .
1 CONT A.K. McGrath, Armstrong); and seven grandchildren.  Also surviving are his
1 CONT father Frank J. Becker, Armstrong; four sisters; Frances (Mrs. H. Avis) an
1 CONC d
1 CONT Genevieve (Mrs. J. Culling) both of Calgary, Alta., Mrs. Helen Skermer of
1 CONT Penticton and Shirley (Mrs. Art Danallanko) of Armstrong.
1 CONT Honorary pallbearers at the funeral, which was attended by members of the
1 CONT Legion and of the ladiesÂ’auxilliary, were: Peter Smith, Robert Hornby,
1 CONT Joseph Mullen, Mat Hassen, Bert Fletcher, James E. Jamieson.  Active
1 CONT pallbearers were: Gordon Sidney, Bill Parker, Art Henley, Jim Hill, Dave
1 CONT Plackburn, Audley File.  Sage and Pothecary, Ltd. was in charge of the
1 CONT funeral arrangements.
1 CONT