Elva Patricia (Lynett) Cline, born Dec. 8, 1930, to Mary Esther McFadden and Thomas Patrick Lynett, in North Bay, ON
&
Arnold Russell Cline, born May 25, 1932, to Marjorie Robinson and William Ernest Cline, in New Liskeard, ON
Elva attended school in North Bay, graduating from N.B.C.I. & V.S. where she excelled as a student and was the senior girl’s track and field champion and basketball star. She then attended the North Bay Teachers’ College. Her first teaching assignment was at the North Bay Golf Course Public School, which had eight grades in one room. When it was closed, she was the first teacher in the new Vincent Massey Public School (again 8 grades in one room) but a new building.
Arnold’s family moved to Kirkland Lake where he attended Central Public School and KLCVI. His first employment was as a miner with Wright Hargreaves Gold Mine. Subsequently, he moved to North Bay where he was employed by Hamilton and Loney Flooring and Frank Speers Supply Company before starting his own company, Thermo Coustics Ltd., in 1967. Arnold has since passed the company on to his sons, John and Tom.
Arnold met Elva through a friend, who had portrayed her as “his Old Maid school teacher” sister. Elva and Arnold were married in North Bay’s St. Andrews United Church in 1953. They raised four children, John, Colleen, Thompson and Shawna, who are residents of North Bay.
Elva, while raising the children, continued displaying her administrative and athletic prowess at the North Bay Golf and Country Club where she served as Ladies Section Captain, President and won many golfing awards. She was also a member of the Northern Ontario Champion Colt Curling team in her first year with the club graduating to the Skip’s position. She
also enjoyed bowling and won many trophies.
Arnold joined the North Bay Roughrider Football Club and played until an injury ended his playing career. He continued to contribute to Ontario’s football programs as Referee for NOSSA and NFC games; Secretary, President and Referee-in-Chief of the Northern Football Conference and the North Bay Football Club; he has been awarded the Mitchell/Avery Memorial Award, Ontario Amateur Football Association “Pigskin” Award, elected to the NFC Hall of Fame and in
1991 was the Honourary Chairman of the North Bay Bulldogs Football Club. Arnold was inducted into the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame on April 27, 2002, in recognition of his over 40-year contribution to football as a player, official and builder.
Elva and Arnold have contributed to North Bay society over the years with their involvement in many community groups including memberships and holding various offices in: Omond
Memorial United Church, North Bay Golf and Country Club, The Kiwanis Club of North Bay, Associated Canadian Travelers, Nipissing Masonic Lodge No. 420 Rameses Shrine Club,
We, the children, grand-children and great-grand-children of Elva and Arnold Cline want to ensure that everyone knows how much we admire the hard work, dedication and positive outlook Elva and Arnold have brought to us as well as their community.
Honoured by John Cline.