(from Warwick Tweedsmuir and From This Place)
Orville Redmond (–1984) married Margaret Bell McElroy (1913–2006) in 1943. Margaret was born in Watford, the daughter of James and Mary Jane (Minnie McPhedran) McElroy. She had one sister, Annie (Dinniwell).
Orville was a farmer. In later life he drove school bus. They had two children, Mac and Helen. The Redmonds lived on the McElroy family farm on First School Rd., north of the Egremont Rd., where Margaret had grown up, for the rest of their lives.
Margaret attended Kelvin Grove Public School (SS#2), Watford High School and London Normal School. She taught in elementary schools for many years, in Adelaide, Brooke and Warwick Twp. Her interests were focused on her family, her church and her community. She was a life member of Warwick Women’s Institute; she was active in St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Warwick Village, and when St. Mary’s closed, she became active in Trinity Anglican Church in Watford.
The Redmond/McElroy farm continues in Mac Redmond’s care. In early 2008 Mac retired after eight years as Executive Director of the North Lambton Community Health Centre. Mac started his public service career in 1973 as a planner with the City of Sarnia, then transferring to the Human Resources Department. In 1987 Mac became Human Resources Director for the County of Lambton.
(additional information submitted by Helen Keenliside)
Margaret Bell McElroy was introduced to Orville Thompson Redmond by his sister, Ella in 1941. A romance blossomed as opposites attract. The outgoing, community spirited, local school teacher, Margaret and the quiet, sensitive farm boy married and lived with his parents, Robert and Margaret Inez (Wilson) Redmond on the 2nd Line SER, Warwick Township for a few months before moving into the home where Margaret had grown up, in the 3 bedroom Ontario Cottage style house on First School Road (north half of Lot 13, Conc. 1 NER) where her family lived until 2003 (a span of 150 years).
Margaret inherited the 50 acres that the house is on from her father, James McElroy’s estate. This included 50 acres across the road which included a sugar bush where Orville and his brothers made maple syrup. Orville purchased another adjacent 50 acres. The 150 acres was used for mixed farming with dairy cows (Ayrshire), chickens (Orville had an egg route in Sarnia where he sold the eggs) and cash crop (peas on contract to the cannery in Warwick). When health issues caused Orville to retire from active farming, he began to drive public school bus at Warwick Central, which he enjoyed. They travelled in a motor home in later years.
Orville and Margaret attended St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Warwick Village, where they were both active and Margaret played the organ in later years. Margaret was a lifelong member of the Warwick Women’s Institute as well as the Anglican Church Women. When St. Mary’s Church closed, she transferred her membership to the Trinity Anglican Church in Watford.
Margaret went to Normal School in London, trained as a school teacher, and taught in one room schools in Adelaide and Warwick Townships until she had a son, Mac. She helped Orville on the farm until their daughter, Helen was in Grade 5. Margaret returned to her profession and taught in Warwick Central School until she retired. Margaret and Orville loved their four grandchildren, enjoying hockey games, ball games and concerts at school and church.
Chapter 24 of 25 - Redmond Family
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