GEORGE LAURENCE (LARRY) FRANCIS RIDDELL R.I.A., C.D., C.M.A. -

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GEORGE LAURENCE (LARRY) FRANCIS RIDDELL R.I.A., C.D., C.M.A. 1922 - 2005 With great sadness we announce the death of our much loved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, on Tuesday, December 20, 2005, at the Grace General Hospital. Laurence will be lovingly remembered and forever missed by his daughters, Kathleen Colquhoun of Dunvegan, ON, and Janet McCombe (Robyn) of Winnipeg; grandchildren, Ian (Nancy), Emily, Georgina Colquhoun; Christopher, Graeme, Lauren McCombe; and new great-granddaughter Isobel Colquhoun. He was predeceased by his parents George and Martha-Jane Riddell; sister Pat; father and mother-in-law Hilton and Ingeborg (Emma) Whitworth; son-in-law Joseph Colquhoun, just this year; and his beloved wife of 58 years, Constance in May 2002. Laurence was born September 7, 1922, in his mother's bed on Bartlet Avenue in Winnipeg. This was very significant to him, as he had never been hospitalized during his life until a fracture in 2003! He attended Riverview and Kelvin schools. After the war he earned an R.I.A. (Registered Industrial Accountant) degree, a F.S.M.A.C. (Fellow of the Society of Management Accountants of Canada) and a C.M.A. During the war he was a flying instructor with the RCAF and was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration (C.D.) He was in the militia, and was the adjutant of the Fort Garry Horse for many years. Our mother was very proud of his accomplishments and believed he could do anything. During a trip to England on a 747 she felt safe being with him because if something happens to the pilot, your dad could take over. Dad, however, felt safe once the plane had landed, knowing there is a huge difference between piloting a Tiger Moth and that of a 747 with a cockpit, which sits as high in the air as a 5 story building with a complicated instrument panel! In October 1945 he began a 42-year career with Investor's Syndicate/Investor's Group. At one time, close to every employee in the Broadway Office likely had been hired by him! By his retirement he was Vice President of several of the companies, and was proud to have had a hand in the construction of the impressive One Canada Centre on Portage Avenue. Over the years he held numerous executive positions with many associations like S.I.C.A. Manitoba, The National Office Management Association, Wartime Pilots and Observers Association, Assiniboine South School Division, The Carleton Club, The Investment Funds Institute of Canada, The Fort Garry Horse Senate, Winnipeg Condominium Corporation No. 36, the Winnipeg Better Business Bureau and many more. Laurence was baptized, confirmed and married in St. Alban's Anglican Church. His name is in the cornerstone of St. Peter's Anglican Church. He was a past master of Friendship Masonic Lodge #165 which became Millennium Lodge #182. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite (Valley of Winnipeg), Shrine's Khartum Temple, the Royal Order of Scotland, the Western Canada Aviation Museum and the Charleswood Senior Centre. He went to Rotary Club meetings twice a week, attending the Fort Garry Club, and held over 33 years of perfect attendance at the Winnipeg West Rotary Club. He has worked at nearly every Rotary Chicken Fest fundraiser during the past 30 years! Fellow Rotarians, men and women alike, have been a wonderful support to Laurence since our mother's death, for which we are most grateful. He missed her terribly, but a great pride and keen interest in the activities of his family, and the unconditional love of his favored feline Rachel kept him looking forward each year to the next birthday! The help he has needed from us over the last four years was well earned. His own father died suddenly only five days after our parent's wedding, so Laurence looked after his mother and his sister until their passing years later. He was a very loyal son and brother. At his retirement celebration in 1987, one colleague spoke of his sense of fairness and the ability to get things done. A difficult issue in the workplace, causing discontent, arose and it was suggested they send in Larry Riddell - he'd know how to handle it fairly! The family would like to acknowledge the staff at the Grace Hospital, and the care and attention received from his home visiting nurse, Shirley Toews. Those who knew him well knew he had a directness and a wry sense of humour that we all appreciated and will miss greatly. Fortunately, Shirley was up for the task too! Dad and grandfather, we will always love and remember you. An intimate family cremation ceremony will take place, officiated by The Venerable Bryan Bjerring, with interment at Chapel Lawn Memorial Garden, 4000 Portage Avenue. A reception to honour the memory of both Laurence and Constance will be held in the new year. An announcement will be made at that time. Donations in Laurence's memory may be made to the charity of your choice; however, he believed in the Rotary Foundation (243-375 York Ave., R3C 3J3), and avidly supported the Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band (46 Burgess Bay, R3T 3S7) where his grandsons play the bagpipes. Since becoming a widower, and reaping the benefits of Rachel's companionship, supporting the Winnipeg Humane Society had also become a priority to him. (5 Kent St., R2L 1X3) Arrangements entrusted to: NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200 ...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee. - John Donne Come and find the place where I am lying And kneel and say an Ave there for me. I shall hear, though soft you tread about me. And all my grave will warm and sweeter be. And you shall bend and tell me that you love me, And I shall rest in peace until you come to me. Oh Danny Boy - Fred E. Weatherly

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 23, 2005