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Couple grew up in P.G.

Allan Thorp was born in Strome, Alberta in 1931 and with a huge grin he said, "That makes me 23 Celsius! Luckily I married Gladys (Folden) Thorp in 1954 and during those nearly 61 years we had four children, Candace (Dave Johnston), Darold (Kristen),
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Allan Thorp was born in Strome, Alberta in 1931 and with a huge grin he said, "That makes me 23 Celsius! Luckily I married Gladys (Folden) Thorp in 1954 and during those nearly 61 years we had four children, Candace (Dave Johnston), Darold (Kristen), Gordon and Melvin (Louise); we now have ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren."

Al said, "My family arrived in Prince George on the Canadian National Railroad and then by truck to Woodpecker in November of 1937 and I can tell you - it was cold! My wife Gladys (Folden) Thorp was born in 1932 in Daylesford, Saskatchewan. Her family arrived in Prince George in 1941.

"I went to Woodpecker School for eight years and finished grade 11 in Prince George. I started my work career at Doc's Radio Clinic on 3rd Ave. for $80 per month. I thought it was pretty good pay because it was the first time I ever had money to call my own. I also worked at Rose's Ice Cream shop (on the corner of 2nd and Brunswick St.), Canadian Propane and the Prince George Bakery where Kelly O'Bryan's is located today."

Due to health issues Al's parents sold the 80 acre farm in Woodpecker for $500 and they moved to Prince George. Al said, "I was 19 and the only one working so I helped look after my parents and I claimed them as dependants on my income tax. We purchased a sawmill cabin on skids for $700 on Fraser Ave. which at that time was the boundary of Prince George and is now called Carney Street.

"We had to pack our water from a stand pipe at the corner of 5th and Fraser (Carney). If anyone left the pipe dripping in the winter, a huge mound of ice would form. Once the ice formed you had to run at it and quickly grab the pipe and hold on in order to get your water."

Al started at Westcoast Transmission in 1957 as a wheel barrel operator. When he retired, after 37 years, he was the Southern District Manager, responsible for 14 compressor stations, approximately 150 people and 2,000 km of pipeline that went from the U.S. border all the way north to Chetwynd.

The couple met at a wedding dance; Al was playing in the band and Gladys was one of the bridesmaids.

During their courtship Gladys was working at the Blue Bird Caf (next door to where the Wally West Studio is now located) and Al made it a habit to stop in for a milkshake. It didn't take long until Gladys was putting in an extra scoop of ice cream in that very special milkshake. They dated for three years, got married in 1954 and the rest is history.

In those early years Gladys worked at Hughes and Rutledge ladies wear store and the Allen and Hawthorne store where the Isle Pierre pie shop on George Street used to be. She was a swimming instructor for the School District and a telephone operator for the Northwest Telephone Company.

Gladys volunteered for many years and served as president of the Prince George Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society. The Canadian Cancer Society in Vancouver expressed that they had great respect for the achievements of the Prince George Unit.

Gladys was successfully nominated to the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer's Society of Canada in 1985. Her nomination was the result of her dedication and many hours of work as a founding member of the local Prince George Alzheimer's Society and in recognition of her five years served as their president.

Gladys was affectionately know around the City as the Gingerbread Lady because of the special replica gingerbread houses that she created and donated so they could be raffled off for various local charities.

Gladys was also the Special Events Chairman for the Terry Fox Run in 1980.

Al says, "I retired in 1994. I belong to the Old Time Fiddlers and the drama club, the Forever Young Choir and the Country Cuzzins at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre. I have also been an active member of the Prince George Gyro Club for the past 25 years."

Gladys took up painting in her retirement and has been painting pictures of scenery and old buildings in water color, acrylics and oil ever since. Al proudly said, "Gladys has talent and she has a great collection, in fact she has an extensive collection. Our family and friends are all encouraging her to have her very own art show to proudly show off all of her work. We now have her to the point that she says she is considering it.

"Both Gladys and I enjoy gardening, ten pin bowling, playing canasta and our cabin at Summit Lake, but most of all we enjoy our family and our many good friends."