Obituary of Arthur Albert Joseph Crocock

Crocock, Arthur Albert Joseph - January 1, 1917 - May 2, 2010 (Staff Sergeant, NRPS, retired) Peacefully at Collingwood Nursing Home in Collingwood, Ontario on Sunday May 2, 2010 at 93 years of age. Predeceased by his loving wife Doris (1999). Arthur is survived by his children; daughter Dale (Ted) Pachla, daughter Janet (Lance) Wright and son Donald (Laurie). Always loved and fondly remembered by his grandchildren Amber, Christopher, Cody and Dylan and his great-grandchild, Damon. Predeceased by his parents William and Mary Theresa (nee Olinski), sisters Mary Johnson, Elizabeth Crocock, Edna Catherwood, Bertha Jackson and brothers John, Frank and Gordon. Arthur had a long and at times adventurous life. He was born in Brantford and lived the first years of his life in abject poverty. School was definitely not his passion; but he never let that stop him from learning. Early in his life, he did find his passion - baseball. His love and deep regard for the game stayed with him for his entire life. Arthur's abilities caught the eye of a couple of St. Catharines sports legends, Rex Stimers and Tommy Garriock, and in 1940 they brought him here to play OBA Senior ball, sweetening the deal by securing him a job at McKinnons. This was the key development in Arthur's life, for it brought him here to St. Catharines and eventually allowed him to meet the love of his life, a baseball fan in her own right, Doris Jean Anderson. They married in 1941 and in the late spring of 1942 Arthur enlisted in the Canadian Army. This was undoubtedly the initial action that led to Arthur's deep and unwavering love of his beloved country; a proud Canadian if there ever was one. Arthur was part of the liberating force in Holland and the occupying forces in Germany. He never spoke much of this period, like so many of our great WW2 warriors; he did his job and made it home. Arthur joined the St. Catharines Police Force in 1946 and found another passion in that career. He was, in the 1950's, President of the old St. Catharines Police Association and the Ontario Police Association, eventually rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He retired in 1977 to a full life of travel and enjoying their cottage in Wasaga Beach; providing great memories indeed for all his family. Mr. Crocock is resting at the George Darte Funeral Chapel, 585 Carlton St. St. Catharines. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday may 5, 2010 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A celebration of Art's life will be at the funeral home on Thursday May 6, 2010 at 1 p.m. with cremation to follow. Memorial remembrances made to right to play Canada, would be appreciated by the family.