(submitted by David Wilson, with additions from newspaper clippings)
Norman Wilson (1898–1982) was born in Surrey, England. He came to Canada around 1905 when he was six or seven. He first lived in northern Ontario, then Strathroy and then in the Watford area where he bought a 50 acre farm on the 6th Line just west of 15 Sideroad in Brooke Twp.
Norman married Lillian Mary Leacock (1904–1989) from Brigden. They had one son, David (1936–). During the depression years they lost the farm and Norman and his family moved in with the Leacocks, who lived nearby.
The Wilsons’ gas station was open from 6 a.m. to midnight. The “big” night in those days was Saturday night. There were six other gas stations in Watford, but the Wilson station was the only one at the south end. The Wilsons never did any car repairs, but sold oil and diesel as extras.
Dave married Norma Stutt from Forest in 1958 and built a new home north of the station. They raised two children, Jim and Barbara. Jim married Sandra Merkus and they have two girls. Barbara married Scott McKellar and raised two children, a boy and a girl. Dave operated a television repair business from the station for 25 years. In 1965 his father officially retired and Dave and Norma took over the business.
From the gas station, Dave and Norma ran a motor vehicle licensing outlet for over 25 years. They also handled the bottle returns for the Brewers Retail. In 1990 they added a two bay car wash when Bill’s Car Wash at the north end of town was sold. In 1994 Dave and Norma retired to a new home on Michelin Ave. in Watford.
David Wilson at first gas pumps at Wilson’s Shell Station, Watford. Courtesy D Wilson.
Chapter 24 of 25 - Wilson Family
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