William Alfred Webb Jr. and Alma Leona Beckler

When William Alfred Webb Jr. was born on May 2, 1909, in England, his father, William Alfred Webb (1883-1950), and his mother, Louie (née Shepherd) (1882-1962), were both 26. William Sr. and Louie emigrated to Canada when William was ten months later coming through Nova Scotia and settling in Hamilton. William’s brother George Edward (1915-1957) and three other siblings who died shortly after birth were born after the family arrived in Hamilton.

William married Alma Leona Beckler on September 30, 1930. At the time of the marriage, William’s occupation is listed as “Funeral Director,” and Alma is listed as “Office work.” Brother George was a witness to the marriage, and the other witness is listed as Ella Harrison, Alma’s sister (featured in the wedding photo).

Alma Leona Beckler was born in 1912 when her father, Gustav Beckler (or Bechler) (1880-1914) was 32 and her mother Margaret (née Reiger) (1883-1930) was 29. Her father was a cigar maker, the family was living in Michigan at the time of her birth. She had three sisters.

Alma and Bill Jr. had two children:

• William (Bill) Webb (1938-2007)
• Dorothy Webb (1940-2015) married Gerald Lycett (1932-2015)

On the 1931 census, the couple is living at 39 Emerald Street North with William’s parents. William’s occupation is a driver at an undertaker’s, and his 1930 earnings were $950. There isn’t a house at this location in the present day.

In 1953, we find the family at 86 Wexford Avenue North, just a few blocks from William’s brother George. William’s occupation is foreman.

William Alfred Jr. died on February 3, 1960. Alma was a widow for over twenty years, dying at the Brantwood Manor Nursing Home in Burlington, Ontario on December 19, 1982, at the age of 70.  Her obituary from the Hamilton Spectator reads:

Webb, Alma Leona – At Brantwood Manor Nursing Home, Burlington, Ontario, on Sunday, December 19, 1982. Alma (Beckler) Webb, beloved wife of the late William A. Webb. Dear mother of Dorothy (Mrs. Gerald Lycett) of St. Catharines and William and his dear wife Elizabeth of Hamilton. Sister of Ella Harrison of Hamilton, Ethy Daily of Dundas and Gladys Daradich of Hamilton. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Nancy, Joey, Lori Lynn, Wendy Ann and cousin Mrs. Helen Smith of Burlington. Mrs. Webb was a former member of St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, Burlington and an employee of the T. Eaton Company for 20 years. The family will receive friends at Smith’s Funeral Home, 485 Brant Street, Burlington on Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. where funeral service will be held on Wednesday December 22, 1982 at 11 a.m. Archdeacon Thomas Crawford officiating. Interment Woodland Cemetery, Hamilton.

The couple are buried in Woodland Cemetery in Hamilton.