T.J. Senft

G. married G. Weeks. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Reward of Merit
Chilliwack rejoices this week in the announcement of honor conferred upon
one of her sons, Flying Officer Harvey A. Weeks. Award of Distinguished Flying Cross to him comes after a long and hazardous term of service, and if there has been some brevity about the news which has reached Chilliwack concerning Harvey's award there are few here who will worry.
An award to Harvey, whatever may be the terms of the official citation, is a well earned one. His friends here have little difficulty in recalling the story; a husky, friendly chap whose grin belied a strain of seriousness, whose modesty cloaked plenty of ability too. Three tours of operations over Germany, Italy, and Africa were highlighted by participation in the famous Ruhr Dam raid and the winning of his commission.
Harvey has gained both his commission and his decoration the hard way. It is true of war that more brave acts go unheralded than otherwise, and we would not forget the hundreds of undecorated Chilliwack chaps in all the armed services who are conducting themselves in the same brave, modest and efficient fashion. At the same time, all Chilliwack is happy to join in congratulating FO Weeks and his family on this merited distinction.

Source; Newspaper clipping

PO Harvey Weeks, son of Mr and Mrs O. A. Weeks of Chilliwack, has recently received his commission overseas. P/O Weeks arrived overseas in 1942, a year after his enlistment, and has taken part in more than 60 raids over enemy territory. he was one of the district's foremost basketball players and an enthusiastic golfer.


Harvey Alexander WEEKS, Rank of Pilot Officer, Official Number as J.19206; Command or Group was No. 5 Group, Bomber Command, Unit was No. 617 Squadron, Total hours flown on operations was 302 hrs., 20 min; Number of Sorties was 46, Recognition fo which recommended was D.F.C., Appointment held was Operational Air Gunner.
P/O Weeks has completed 46 operational sorties as an Air Gunner. He has taken part in attacks against such heavily defended targets as Berlin, Essen, Hamburg and has several times been in action over Northern Italy. He volunteered to join ...Duties Squadron in March 1943 and has since then carried out 20 sorties against specially selected targets in occupied Europe. He has been operating continuously since October 1942 and his magnificent devotion to duty and complete disregard of danger when his aircraft has been heavily engaged have materially assisted in those successful attacks against the enemy. He has been a source of inspiration to the remainder of his crew and he is strongly recommended for the award of the D.F.C. (Distinquished Flying Cross). Dated 10 .... 1944.

After the war, Harvey was married and returned home to Chilliwack. According to family sources, Harvey had a tough time making the adjustments to peace time living and finding employment. He suffered from depression, nerves, and often partook of alcohol. Harvey and his wife never left Chilliwack after this, as Harvey took a job 'slinging beer' at various local establishments. He is referred to by many locals today (2003) as a most colorful man. He worked feverishly for the Cadet program and the Flying Club in Chilliwack. He was happiest when reminiscing with the guys or veterans. Many exerpts from his military file such as log books, names of crew members etc are filed in a special folder (Flying Club) at the Chilliwack Archives.

Burial Plot Location: World Canadian Legion Cemetery, Chilliwack, B.C. - Plot D125 with room for Doris (his wife) in D126. Centre 2 plots were left for cremation and Harvey's monument is (?) East in direction of the flag/spire. Although death occurred Mar. 22, 1991, interment took place Mar. 11, 1992.

Harvey married D.E. Cozens [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Barber

Notes:

*1901 Census 93 Norfolk, b-5 Dereham, Page 8, Line 7*
Weeks, Omar A., Male, W., Son, Single, Born 25 Nov. 1884, Age 16, Rural Ontario, Presby.,

Obituary:
Omar Amos Weeks, born 1883, passed away November 26, 1954 in Chilliwack General Hospital in 71st year. Late of 426 Mary St, Chilliwack. He leaves to mourn his passing, 2 daughters, Mrs T. M. Thompson, Chilliwack and Mrs. T. Jackson, Vancouver; 1 son Harvey Weeks, Chilliwack and 3 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 29 at 1:30 pm Chilliwack. Chapel of Henderson's funeral Home - Rev. Dr. G. Glover officiating. Cremation to follow.

LOCAL BARBER OMAR WEEKS DIES AT 71
Source: The Chilliwack Progress - Wed., Dec. 1, 1954; page 5
One of Chilliwack's pioneer residents and one of the first barbers in town, Omar Amos Weeks, 426 Mary Street, collapsed Friday and died in Chilliwack General Hospital. He was in his 71st yar.
Mr Weeks was born November 25, 1894, at Tillsonburg, Ontario. He had lived in B.C. for 41 years. He was a familiar figure to many who visited his barber shop on Yale road west and well known for his various club activities. He was an active member of the Oddfellows. Mr. Weeks belonged to Chilliwack Lawn Bowling club and was keen on the sport. He contributed press reports on the club's activiites for some time.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. T. M. Thompson, Chilliwack; Mrs. J. Jackson, Vancouver; one son, Harvey, Chilliwack; one brother and one sister in Ontario; five granchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Jane, October 4, 1950.
Funeral service was held Monday at 1:30 pm, from the Chapel of Henderson's Funeral Home, Chilliwack. Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Glover officiating. Cremation followed.
Pallbearers were Herbert Pook; Charles Davis, Ernest Pearson, William Teetzel, Kenneth Boake and H. Darling.

Omar Amos Weeks
1954, Nov. 26; age 69
Chilliwack, B.C., Canada
Reg # 1954-09-011685
B.C. Archives # B13222, GSU Microfilm # 2032968


COMMUNITY PROJECTS - CHILLIWACK PROGRESS NEWSPAPER - MARCH 30, 1949
OMAR A. WEEKS ...... barber
Pay as you go is the unwritten motto of a man who has carried on a successful business in Chilliwack for more than 38 years.
"This not only applies to individuals but also to governments. If we keep abreast of financial and moral obligations the rest of life takes care of itself."
Briefly stated, this is the philosophy of O. A. Weeks: barber, bowler, bicyclist.
At 64, Omar - known to many as simply "O.A." claims he is still too young to use the sit-down type of barbering adopted by many shops.
He was born in Tillsonburg, a small Ontario town which has grown to be ... a small Ontario town.
"Nothing ever grows in Ontario," says Mr. Weeks. "It's too cold."
"Sure I like the West," he says convincingly. "I like the way young people get out on their own and progress. They make mistakes but they profit by them. and," says Omar wryly, "they don't elect Conservative governments."
Why does a man become a barber?
Omar Weeks was born and spent his early youth on a homestead farm carved from the Ontario timberland. The few hours away from the rigors of clearing land, plowing and tending stock, he spent in or near the town's only four -chair barber shop. Here in the nostalgic atmosphere of perfumed hair off and singed moustaches was the center of masculine gossip, the dispensary of travelled eloquence and harbingers of fascinating monologue.
Mr. Weeks had few regrets when he turned from strenuous agrarian labor to an apprenticeship in the four-chair shop.
His conversations with travelled customers soon filled his imagination with the opportunities of the West. Lock, stock and scissors he moved to New Westminster. That was 1910. a year later he caught the steamer for Chilliwack.
Omar's shop - the second tonsorial parlor in Chilliwack - consisted of two chairs and a thriving business. Gasoline lamps hung hissing from the ceiling and hand clippers cut their labourious way over the gnarled pates of loggers, homesteaders and ranchers, and the conversation was the most painless part of the operation.
There were never any moustache cups in Omar's shop, despite the fact they were still a fashion necessity for gentlemen during the early 20th century. "O.A." had definite ideas about moustache cups. As a matter of fact he claims without hesitation to be one of the instigators of the downfall of barber shop ceramics.
Twenty years ago Mr. Weeks' business reached the four-chair stage and his establishement was twice as large as it is today. Then came the depression.
Two months ago his shop - still in the Hart block where it was originally located - lost its third chair, an unused reminder of busier days.



Memories of Omar Weeks, from Granddaughter Myrna Peacock, 2003.
My grandfather was always a hard worker. When we were around him, he was not exactly a happy go lucky fellow, but rather serious to we his grandchildren. He was loving, but also stern, as was Grandmother Margaret too. Grampa Omar always wore a wig; his barbershop was open 6 days a week. He never owned an automobile, but rode his bicycle everywhere. His pattern for the week was Monday to Saturday, go to his barbershop and open early and close late. On Sundays, he and his wife Margaret would attend the United Church morning service. After his lunch he would cycle to the local hospital where he voluneered his barbering services to those that were hospitalized - haircuts and shaves.

Omar married Margaret Jane Douglas on 3 Mar 1915 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Margaret (daughter of A. Douglas and M.J. Henderson) was born on 16 Nov 1893 in , Franklin, Manitoba, Canada; died on 4 Oct 1950 in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada; was buried on 7 Oct 1950 in Vancouver Crematorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Racial Origin: Scotch
• Occupation: Housewife

Notes:

Birth Registration: - Certificate Vital Statistics # 14314
On the 16 day of December 1893 at NE1/4 of Section 2-15-17, Municipality
of Odanah. In the province of Manitoba, Canada there occurred the Birth of Margaret Jane Douglas. Name of Father - Alexander R. Douglas, Occupation - Farmer.
This birth is certified to be registerd as No. 2 for the year 1893 in the registry of Registration Division of Municipality of Odanah, now on record in the archives of the Provincial Board of Health.



Death Note Source:
BC Archives - Film B13206, film #2032634
Reg # 1950-09-009175

Mrs Omar Weeks
Source: Chilliwack Progress newspaper, Oct. 17, 1950; Page 7
A member of a well-known Chilliwack family was lost in the studden passing October 4 of Mrs. Margaret Jane Weeks in Chilliwack hospital.
Funeral service was held Saturday at 11 am, in Henderson's chapel, conducted by Dr. Geoffrey Glover. Cremation followed.
The late Mrs. Weeks was born in Franklin, Man., in 1893 and came to Chilliwack 38 years ago. She was for many years an active member of Chilliwack United Church.
She leaves her husband, Omar at 426 Mary street; two daughters Mrs. T. M Thompson, Young street north, and Mrs. J. Jackson, Langley, and a son, Harvey, in Chilliwack. There are five grandchildren.

Notes:

Married:
Marriage Source:
B.C. Archives Microfilm # B11379; # 1983707; Reg. No. 1915-09-080176

Groom: Omar Amos Weeks
Age: 30
Bachelor
Occupation: Barber
Residence: Chilliwack, B.C.
Place of Birth: Tillsonburg, Ontario
Father: Isaac Weeks
Mother: Nancy Westbrook
Rank or profession of Father: Farmer
Religion of bridegroom: Presbyterian

Bride: Margaret Douglas
Age: 21
Spinster
Occupation: blank
Residence; Chilliwack, B.C.
Place of Birth: Franklin, Manitoba
Surname of Father: Alex. R. Douglas
Surname of Mother: Jennie Henderson
Rank or profession of Father: Farmer
Religion of bride: Presbyterian
Date of Marriage; 3rd of March, 1915
Married at Vancouver, B.C. according to the rites and ceremonies of Presbyterian Church by License # 50331.

Witnesses: Mrs. A Burr
R Patterson

Minister; H.C. Fraser