Viewing Object

Robert (Bob) Harrower was born September 8, 1917 on Roberts Road, near Livingstone Road (232 Street) on his family's farm. He went to school at Murrayville Elementary and Langley High School. He took over the family farm when his father died of Lou Gehrig's disease in 1937, and worked to put his two sisters and brother through school. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F.) during World War II and became a navigator with the rank of Flying Officer. He returned to Langley after the war to continue running the farm. He married Hazel Harding in July 1946 in a ceremony at Sharon United Church in Murrayville. The couple had three children: Jim, Lillian, and Rob (d. 1981). They farmed until 1957, at which point Bob joined the customs service and worked at Huntingdon, Aldergrove, Pacific Highway, and Vancouver. He was one of twelve investigators with the Customs and Excise Investigations Branch in B.C. He was an active member of the Langley community, serving as chairman of the Langley Recreation Commission, and helping ensure new recreation facilities were built, including Al Anderson Pool and the track at Langley Secondary. He was a longtime proponent of the Langley Walk. He was a president of the Langley Cribbage League and played on the Murrayville Cribbage team for at least fifty years. He taught bridge at night school and served on the executive of the Murrayville Community Hall Association. He was an active member of Sharon United Church, a member of the Douglas Day committee, and a member of the Langley Heritage Society.
Information source: newspaper article "Pioneer Mourned" Langley Advance May 15 1996.