SEALOCK, Charles Harrison 1916 – 2014

Charles Harrison Sealock, CWO ret’d
July 26, 1916 to April 11, 2014

Sealock, Charles Harrison, of Vulcan, passed away peacefully at Vulcan Extendicare on Friday, April 11, 2014, at the age of 97 years.

Charlie was born July 26, 1916, in a homestead shack on the SW1/4 32-17-20, the third child of Justus and Ethel Sealock.  In 1928, with his parents, sister Leona and brother Glenn, the family moved further west to the Art Jones’ homestead, the present farm site.  With his sister and brothers, he attended Sunny Plains School and worked on his parent’s farm.  He then took a correspondence course in Diesel Engineering.  After that Charlie worked for neighboring farmers, then attended a Diesel School in Los Angeles and Aero Engine School in Calgary in preparation for joining the RCAF in February of 1942. In 1944 Charlie married Hilda Jean Place in Dog Creek RCAF Station in British Columbia.

In 1946, after being transferred to the reserves, Charlie and Jean returned to the Dog Creek Airport which was being operated by the Department of Transport.  They left the Cariboo in 1948, moving to Calmar, Alberta, where Charlie worked as a Mechanic for Okalta Oils.  In 1950 Charlie joined the civil staff at 2CMU Calgary, as a Diesel Mechanic, and was sent on inspection trips to Norman Wells and Resolute.  The following year he rejoined RCAF Regular Force and served until January 1972.  During this time he was stationed at various bases across Canada, visiting the Dew Line and min-Canada radar sites.  The last eight years of his service was on the staff of the Air Defense Command at St. Hubert and North Bay.  A highlight of his career occurred after the earthquake in the Peruvian Andes in 1970, when Charlie and his crew transported and installed emergency power plants in Peru.  In 1972, after serving 28 years, Charlie retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and with Jean and took up residence in Vulcan, Alberta, until his passing.

Charles was active in the Royal Canadian Legion in Vulcan for many years, having served on a number of executive positions, coordinating the poppy fund and maintaining the Legion cemetery.

Left to remember are his daughters, Jeanette Lancaster (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia); Linda (Wayne) Peckham (Albert Bridge, Nova Scotia); Beverly (Randy) Schumacher (Vulcan, Alberta); grandchildren Kim (Kevin) Rounds (Midland, Ontario); Will (Tamara) Lancaster (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia); Shawna (Ryan) Warshawski (Cornerbrook, NL); Lee Peckham (Dartmouth NS);  Dawn, Lloyd and Nicolle Schumacher (Vulcan, AB)  and five great-grandchildren.  Charlie was pre-deceased by his wife, Jean, in 2004 after celebrating 60 years of marriage. Charles was also pre-deceased by an infant daughter, his sister Leona Kunkel, and brothers, Glenn, Raymond and Elmer (Slim).

A Memorial Service was held on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 1:30 pm at the Vulcan Legion Hall, Rev. Gordon Cranch officiating. Inurnment Vulcan Cemetery.

Tributes may be made to the Vulcan Legion Building Fund, Box 175, Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0.

Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home.  Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences through www.vulcanfuneralhome.ca.