Condolence From: Albert Douglas Kilburn
Condolence: THE GIFT OF GAB
The life form that would become Winston Spencer Kilburn began in the late winter and early spring of the
year 1943, and entered life as we know it on the 5th day of January, 1944.
The 5th child, a 3rd son, born of Robert Dennison and Florence Dorothy Kilburn, then living in the Vermont town of Westford.
I don't actually know, but have always believed that his name was taken from the headlines of the then tumultious times of World War II, and that he was named for the Great Winston Churchill.
With the passing of a little time, as with all of his siblings before him, Winston Spencer's Father gave him a nickname that would be more fitting of his nature and character, a nickname that would endure the tests of time, and one that would stay with him throughout his lifetime. That nickname was Gabby. Here again I will interject my opinion and belief that the nickname Gabby was taken from a character actor of Western movies made during the 1930-1940 era. The actor's movie name was Gabby Hayes, his real name was George Francis, a character that always seemed to have a great deal to say about a great many things, not at all unlike our Winston.
As we all know, Winston's death on June 7th, 2018 was his final encounter and battle with death, although it was not Winston's first such battle. Winston's first encounter with death came very early in his life, when a then very young Winston was found floating face-down, cold and blue, and un-breathing, in a large cattle watering tub. Were it not for the love, wisdom, and determination of his Father, and but for the Grace of God, Winston would have died that very day. He did not die on that occasion, he was resuscitated and brought back to life by his Dad, and rejoined his gaggle of siblings to live yet another day.
Winston's second encounter with death came when he was but a young boy, no more than 9-10 years of age. His older Brother Robert Frank, then a hired hand working on a dairy farm (the Archie Rice Farm) in the town of Westford, when Winston while helping his Brother in the barn's haymow, lost his footing and fell. He somehow managed to survive the fall of about some 30 feet to the barn floor, but the damage to his body left him with a broken back. Repair of the break was beyond medical capability at that time, and so Winston's entire upper torso was wrapped in a heavy plaster cast. He wore that cast for the better part of a year, maybe slightly more, but the cast didn't and couldn't keep Winston down. His damaged back would continue to give him pain and difficulty throughout the remainder of his life here on earth.
There was also a light and carefree side of the Winston that I knew. Some of the fun and funny things
I remember give me pause, and bring a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart still today.
Cruzin the Essex Junction Tip-Top block and other streets in the Junction with his buddy's Greenie (Hern) Ryder, Norman (Hatch) Hathaway, and Ray Yandow in Winston's washed out yellow 52 Plymouth sedan.
Falling in love on a summer's night, and wanting to tell his younger brother about it on his return home for the night. While sleeping on the back poarch on a warm summer's evening I was awakened by a
bubbling and exuberant Winston. He proceeded to tell me that he was madly in love with Marie Denno,
and would be forever. No question about it at all.
Running on empty in Winston's 1955 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight when returning home from time spent with the girl friend. I was riding shotgun when the gas ran out, and got a quick lesson on just how fast 10 mph
is, when I opened the passenger door and attempted to get out to push. Feet can't go from 0 to 10 mph instantly, and so I let go of the car door after dragging a short distance, and Winston reluctantly applied the brakes, which ended all hopes of coasting the short distance to home. I was unhurt, and together we pushed the Oldsmobile home.
Time spent working with Winston on Stan Matthew's dairy farm in Essex, and getting a lesson in just how hard farm work can be. I learned early that I didn't want to be a farmer, and it seems the Farm was where
Winston was in his element and most liked to be. Hard work was in his nature.
Winston grew to manhood, and as one of several participants and observers in his young life, I would describe him as a serious and inquisitive man of many and varied interests. Always ready to investigate and/or question things that were, and always thinking of new and different ways to accomplish the tasks at hand.
Winston fell in love and married very young, and together with his wife Marie, helped raise, love, nurture, feed, cloth, and care for, a rather large, by today's standard, family of five. Not a small accomplishment by any means of measure, for a man that somehow managed to cheat death on at least two occasions during my life time.
I won't further attempt to provide detail or comment on Winston's life. All of you, all of his family, know far more than I about the husband, and Father named Winston Spencer (Gabby) Kilburn. I will say that to me he's a one of a kind Brother, and I was very lucky and blessed to have shared parts of his young life. I am glad that we (he more than I) made the effort to stay connected in our later years. When speaking on the telephone became too difficult for me, Winston alone took the time and made the effort to write note cards or letters, to inquire about my life and health, and to convey what things were on-going and of focus for him. To me he will always be "The Gift Of Gab" that we were fortunate to share throughout his life time, a gift that I will retain in memory as long as I myself live.
I Love You Winston........Albert Douglas
Saturday June 09, 2018
