More Life and Times of Carrie Smith born 1914

The Tohm Genealogy

The Foster Genealogy

 Married Life Begins in 1937
     Richard Foster had been working at the King's Printers about two years when Carrie arrived on the scene.  He very quickly made the acquaintance of the new girl and asked her out to a local dance.  Following a second date, the kidding in the bindery was rampant.  "Dick has a girl friend!" One day an older women working in the building approached Carrie with a word of advice: "You know Dick there?  He's a great guy.  He'd be a good catch as a husband."  They married at Saint Paul's church in Esquimalt because Reverend Bischlager from Duncan had recently transferred there. There chosen day was December 15th, the birthday of Carrie's father.  Elsie Foster was the bridesmaid and Alec Caddell was the best man. The honeymoon was a "cruise" on the Friday, midnight, CPR boat to Vancouver. Dick was back at work on Monday.  Carrie became the quintessential homemaker.

Carrie with her two children, Carol Anne and David about 1945. Elsie Foster recorded this in her journal in 1939: "Got a nice new niece. Weight 6 1/2 pounds, 19 1/2 inches long.  What a surprise!"  They are on the steps of their first house in Richardson St.  Dick was off in the army while they lived here.  It was the family home until 1950 when they moved to a larger house on Hampshire Road.

     Carrie married Richard (Dick) in 1937.  All was not smooth sailing for the married couple.  Richard's mother (Esther Chapman) did not approve.  Elsie's journal January 24th 1939: "The prodigal son returns.  Dick came up.  I think he still loves his Mama & Papa even if Carrie doesn't." There were very few visits with the Foster family. 

A Passion for Games
Carrie's life was always full of games.  Soon after there marriage the couple began a regular Saturday night poker date with Archie and Hilda McKeever and at least one other couple that lasted 60 years.  Badminton was on her weekly agenda until about 1953 when golf became a consuming passion that would last 40 years.  She and her two, long time, badminton buddies Beryl Keyes and Bessie Wilson joined the Victoria Golf Club for $50 during a membership drive. In the mid 90s, at her retirement from the game, Carrie was  one of the clubs most senior members.
  There were many trophies and other prizes.  There was even a hole-in-one at a charity benefit.  "There were so many balls on the green someone had to get it in!"

 Here Carrie cuddles, Kim, the youngest of her five grandchildren, born in 1974.  She considered herself very fortunate to be able to enjoy her eight great grandchildren.

In their middle eighties, Cyril and Carrie began lawn bowling.  The picture above is Cyril showing some skill.

Playing Bridge Forever
Shortly after she began to golf in 1953, the ladies coaxed Carrie into her first Bridge game.  She was like a duck to water and soon became a regular winner.  Her excitement for the game never diminished.  In 2004 she bid and made a grand slam in spite of being visually challenged.




Carrie and Cyril shown in the library at the Victorian senior's residence in Victoria about 1997.  The moved from their townhouse at Falcon Ridge in Broadmead to the Victorian in 1996 when Cyril was 88 and Carrie was 82. 

The Tohm Genealogy

The Foster Genealogy