Valued Community Worker Dr. W. Kirk Colbeck is Dead

[Welland Tribune November 20, 1951]

Dr. William Kirk Colbeck, M.B.E., a distinguished leader in his profession and a citizen whose name had been synonymous with many good works died early this morning at his home on Parkway.

Illness forced Dr. Colbeck to remain away from his office early in June and later in the same month  he suffered a stroke.. He received treatment at the Welland County General hospital and in Toronto and was brought home from Toronto a little   over a week ago.

Dr. Colbeck began his practice in Welland 45 years ago. From that time until his illness this year he never ceased to plan and work for community betterment. The story of his life not only reveals high honors from his profession but uncovers chapter after chapter of humanitarian and welfare efforts.

It was typical that in the months just before he was stricken he had succeeded in bringing about organization of a two-county commission set up study and plans to handle the traffic and dockage problems the area would face with the completion of the St Lawrence Seaway and the shipping of ore from Labrador through the Welland Canal.

Dr. Colbeck was a soldier and patriot. The flag at the Welland Canadian Legion of which he was a former president and life member was lowered to half mast when his death was received.

FUNERAL THURSDAY

The Funeral will be held on Thursday afternoon, with services at Central United

Church at 2 o’clock. The body will rest at the H.L. Cudney Funeral Chapel, 241 West Main street until Thursday morning. The casket will remain open in the church from 11am Thursday until 1;30 pm. Rev. F. R. Hendershot, pastor of Central United will officiate at the service and interment will take place at Fonthill cemetery.

Dr. Colbeck pioneered in radiology and suffered the loss of fingers while working with x-ray in 1906? When equipment was not available for measuring exposure. He was always abreast of modern techniques in the medical profession.

The dean of doctors labored unceasingly for improved equipment and modern hospital and lived to see many of the policies…….

Young men in the profession considered it a privilege to work under him and gain benefit from his experience and guidance.

FOUNDED VON HERE

One of  his most notable accomplishments in Welland was the formation of the organization that brought establishment of the Victorian Order of Nurses. He was a charter member of the VON and chairman of the medical board Members of the executive declared today that it was only through the efforts of Dr, Colbeck that the VON came to Welland.

AWARDED MBE

He received the MBE (member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s birthday honor list of June 2, 1943 for  patriotic and philanthropic work to climax a long list of honors since he started to practice in Welland in 1906.

At that time Wellanders generally acknowledged the distinction as richly deserved recognition of his services to his fellow man and the country in fields embracing his profession, public service, humanitarian and the national interest.

He was a life member of the Toronto Academy of Medicine, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons,, member of the Buffalo Academy of medicine, Fellow of the Radiological Society of America, past president of the Ontario Medical Association and a member of the Canadian Medical association.

Dr, Colbeck was born in Colbeck, Ont son of Holden S. and Margaret Mckinley Colbeck on Dec 7, 1877. He received his early education in Orangeville schools and following graduation from the University of Toronto, took post-graduate studies in Leeds, England and Berlin. Prior to coming to Welland in 1906 he practiced for two years at Grand Valley Ontario.

WOUNDED OVERSEAS

A veteran of the First World War, Dr Colbeck served as captain of the 98^th Battalion and proceeded overseas to the 5^th Canadian Field Ambulance. He was wounded at Passchendaele.

He was a life member of the Canadian Legion and was president of the Welland branch in 1936. That same year he was honored with the presidency of the Ontario Medical Association.

In 1936 he was awarded the King George Jubilee Medal.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

He was a former medical officer of health for Welland and adjoining Crowland township and ever since he began his practice was interested in civic affairs. He organized the Welland-Crowland Health League which later became the Welland-Crowland Welfare Council. He campaigned for many years for a recreational centre and was a member of the Welland-Crowland Health and Recreation Association which raised funds for the Welland-Crowland arena. First plans  for which included a recreation centre, which had to be debted because of the cost As a member of the Health League he aided in the establishment of craft work which proved highly popular and later indicating his interest in recreation for older people was instrumental in the founding of a Sunshine Club for people past middle age.

He had always been a strong supporter in the construction of an armories in Welland and played a leading role in exacting a promise from Federal authorities to start construction of an armoury building in Welland when such work was undertaken by the government.

Indicative of the way in which he took his many honors was his reaction to the award of the MBE. He commented at the time that he was deeply grateful for the honor but strongly felt the award really belonged to and was meant for those people of Welland who have worked so earnestly and faithfully in worthwhile enterprises and who have tolerated me as a ‘director of traffic”.

Mr. B. Betler, the president speaking for all the members of the Sunshine Club of Welland

And the vicinity, said this morning ‘ we feel so deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Colbeck, our friend and founder. Just two years ago this month he organized our Sunshine Club which has met each Wednesday afternoon since in the Merritt room of the Barclay hotel, bringing much pleasant fellowship into so many of the lives of the community’s older citizens. Dr Colbeck was a close and interested friend of each of the group and derived much pleasure from their company.

LEGION MOURNS

President A.B. McPherson of Welland Canadian legion paid the following tribute to Dr. Colbeck:

Welland Canadian Legion  mourns the loss of a gallant physician and surgeon and former Legion president in the death of Dr. Colbeck. He attended the wounded on the battlefield in the First World War and here at home attended with rare self sacrifice the ailing and wounded of the Second World War.

…..Legionnaires will long recall his service to his fellow soldiers on the battlefield and the world about him here will also recall is gallant self sacrifices labors in medical research, research in medicine and healing which reflected his deep abiding love of his fellow men.

In a tribute headed,”Honoured by  Two Kings”, Percy Ghent, the editor of the Canadian X-Ray Newsletter, wrote of Dr. Colbeck, after meeting him at a Niagara Falls conference.

Your editor carried away from the conference no brighter memories than those of several meetings with Dr. Colbeck, a faithful friend his kindly and constructive relations with other  radiographers, both before and after their organization into provincial groups or the Dominion society.

His long and faithful service in the x-ray field, his kindly and constructive relations with other workers in that field have earned for Dr. Colbeck a host of friends among radiologists and technicians.