Lottie Jane Weddell ²³²²

   Another name for Lottie was Jane Weddell.

  General Notes:

ARNOLD, JANE (NEE WEDDELL) passed away unexpectedly August 19, 2005. Jane was born in Kelowna in 1928. Predeceased by her son John in 1990 and her husband Gilbert in 2000, she now goes to join them. Jane survived several hardships with humor and grace. Survived by brothers Jack and Tommy (Gail) Weddell, by nephews John and Jeff Weddell and by nieces Cory Ketchum (Chris) and Sarah Weddell. Also survived by great nieces Jessie and Katie Ketchum. She will be missed by her family and many friends in the community. Service at Winfield Memorial Hall, 3270 Barry Road, Winfield, BC at 3:30 P.M., Friday, August 26th, 2005. A reception will follow in the hall. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialkelowna.com

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GROWING UP IN KELOWNA
1928-1948 by Jane (Weddell) Arnold

I was born in Kelowna in 1928. Our family home, which still stands to-day is situated on what must be the wettest lot in town, one house west of the corner of Water Street and Lake Avenue!

My two brothers and I were always able to walk to school and come home for lunch in the noon hour, although I was very envious of the kids who could ride the school bus and bring their lunch to school. We were close enough to the centre of town that my Dad was also able to walk to and fro to his downtown office and also come home for lunch.

I remember when the sewer was installed on our street, it must have been at a cold time of year as the newly dug up road froze with all the ruts in it and being the awkward age around 11 or12 as I walked to school, fell and had a horrible knee for a long time.

During my first year of school at Kelowna Primary our family rented a home on Okanagan Lake at Manhattan Point, not too far north of the site of the Grande Hotel. The sawmill was close by and of course we spent a great deal of time in the lake. I learned to swim at a very early age. We would walk up and down the beach when not swimming, looking for arrowheads and Indian artifacts, of which there were plenty. We found quite a number but I guess most have been picked up by now.

My brother Jack was not old enough to go to school that year. One day he and a young playmate decided to run away and they ran to the huge pile of shavings at the sawmill to play. When it was discovered they were gone,everyone panicked immediately. It could have turned into a major tragedy as it is certainly not a safe playground. Fortunately they were discovered before anything happened and were returned home much to the relief of everyone.

Since I was of school age, my dad would drive me and a couple of other little girls who lived nearby to school when he went to work in the morning. My cousin Phil would pick me up at school at noon and take me to his parents home (my aunt and uncle) on Pandozi street, for lunch.

We rented the home on the lake for one year while our home on Lake Avenue was rented out. We moved back to Lake Avenue around 1935 or 36.

During the depression, we didn't realize how lucky we were that our Father had a steady job. He was the Customs Officer (a one man office at that time) in Kelowna. His first office was not far from the sails on the north side of Bernard Avenue, near where the Travellers Cafe was. Then his office moved to the upstairs of the lovely Post Office on the corner of Bernard Avenue and Ellis Street (now demolished). As children we felt very privileged as we could watch all events, such as parades etc. from the flat roof of the Post Office. What a thrill!

My younger brother Tommy was born in 1941. My dad joined the reserve army as the rank of captain. He did not serve overseas during this war but he had served during the first world war. He fought at Vimy Ridge and Paschendale and other battles. We were lucky he stayed in B.C. during the second war as we had him home often.

As children we did a lot of bike riding and went on many hikes while packing a lunch. We have hiked all over the hills now that are developed such as Knox Mountain, the Westside, (Bear Creek), Dilworth Mountain, Gallagher's Canyon. We even met Dan Gallagher, the owner of the property that was named after him. We took our lunch and were gone for the day, but we never went alone, always with a group of friends, many of whom are still living in this area.

We spent many summer days going to the Aquatic on the shore of Okanagan Lake in the City Park. Sometimes we were "wealthy " enough to have 10 cents to go to the movies on Saturday afternoon. My brother Jack and I always looked forward to our many week-ends when we went to visit our grandparent's orchard in Oyama.

I also spent many school holidays there, never thinking one day I would be living so close by in Winfield. Travelling to Oyama was a "huge" expedition for Mum, Dad, Jack and I. Tommy was only able to go to Oyama as a baby once or twice. Our dog always went along and had as much fun as we did.

During the second world war when Tommy was a baby and Dad away, my mother would often get help by having some poor soul who needed some money or a good meal in exchange for chopping wood or gardening or any work that needed to be done. This was a great help to both parties.

We always had a wonderful time with our friends and family. We didn't worry about entertainment and never seemed to lack for something to do.

On a summer evening our family would often walk down town to Chapins cafe and buy an ice-cream cone for each of us and even a cone for our little white dog "Boots" who was a well known character in Kelowna. Boots would lie down on his stomach on the sidewalk and hold the cone in his front paws while eating it. We had to wait until he had finished before we could walk home.

Lottie married Gilbert Nelson Arnold, son of Nelson John Arnold and May Alexandra Laing, on 26 Mar 1951 in Kelowna, B.C. (Gilbert Nelson Arnold was born on 11 Dec 1928 in Kelowna , B.C, died on 15 Oct 2000 in Kelowna , B.C. and was buried on 20 Oct 2000 in Lakeview Cemetery, Kelowna B.C..)