Alton Arnold Aiken

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Alton Aiken passed on to God’s presence peacefully in the early morning hours of March 22, 2024 at Bridlewood Manor in Brockville in his 94th year.

Alton was born at his grandparents’ farmhouse in Dunkin, Quebec on a hot July day in1929. He spent his early years in Highwater, Quebec. He attended a one room schoolhouse in Highwater, later the public school in Mansonville, and finally spent two years boarding in Knowlton, Quebec to achieve his grade 10. He grew up working the farm with his dad, whom he always described as his best friend. In order to help with finances he also drove one of the first real school buses in the area; he also worked on the railroad Summer maintenance crews and for a short time he bought and operated a barber shop in Mansonville. Alton spent lots of time with cousins and school chums and built fond memories and life-long relationships.

Alton met his life-time love, C. Eileen J. Langstaff at a church event in Lennoxville in the Fall of 1955 while Eileen was attending the Child Evangelism Institute in Lennoxville. They courted for a year, much of which was by letter, marrying in September 1956. Alton started work as a border services agent with Canada Customs at the Port of Highwater, and began raising their family of two children. Alton was an active member of the Mansonville Baptist Church and held the office of deacon and treasurer.

Alton held a deep love of the hills of Eastern Quebec and Northern Vermont which endured all of his life. He treasured his childhood friendships and worked diligently to maintain these through his life. In 1971, with increasing separatist tensions rising in Quebec, Alton decided to move to Ontario and transferred to the Port of Prescott, purchased a home in Domville, and continued the work of raising his family as a devoted and loving husband and father. Having completed a rewarding thirty-one year career with Canada Customs, he retired in 1988 and continued to keep busy with vacation trips across the continent, gardening, car and house repairs and helping out friends and neighbors. Alton was a long-standing and active member of the Centennial Road Standard Church.

Alton is survived by his wife, Eileen, who remains at Bridlewood Manor, son Stephen of Windsor (and daughter-in-law Susan), daughter Esther of Brockville (son-in-law Larry), 6 grandchildren, Nigel (Mishelle), Theresa, Aleatha, (Andrew), Val, Eva, Eli, and two great granddaughters, Gloria and Emily. Predeceased by sister Ruth, father Arnold, mother, Eva (nee Smith), and step-mother Gertrude.

There will be a private family funeral at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville with private interment at the Blue Church cemetery in Prescott at a later date There will be a future public celebration of life in several months - TBA.

Memorial donations may be directed to Child Evangelism Fellowship Ontario, at the link below or by calling the funeral home. Find out more about the ministry that brought Alton and Eileen together at cefontario.org.

View and post condolences, memories, photos, and videos on the ‘Memory Wall’ and ‘Photos and Videos’ tabs above.

A livestream link is provided in the ‘Service Details’ tab below and can be viewed on Saturday, March 30th, 2024 at 1 pm or later as a video.

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