CHARLES EDWARD LAWRENCE

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CHARLES EDWARD LAWRENCE Peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, March 25, 2000, Charlie was beckoned Home. He welcomed his reunion with his beloved wife Marguerite on the other side. Marvelling in Gods plan but missing the Charlie "Good days" are his brother Herb and sister Ethel; his children, Donald and Marie, Louise and Barry, John and Allan; his grandchildren, Tricia and David; also many, many friends and other cherished family members. Charlie was born in Wawanesa, Man., on September 28, 1911. Most of his life was spent working for The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company. He was educated in Wawanesa, trained for business in Winnipeg and later enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force from Winnipeg. Just prior to his enlistment, he met his princess, Marguerite Argue while doing a "fire inspection" for her country school near Govan, Sask. It was pouring rain that morning, Marguerite was drying her long hair before the pot-bellied stove when into the one-room schoolhouse walked Charlie. They were married later in June 1941, and made their first home in Wawanesa. Son Donald arrived while Charlie was training in St. Thomas, Ontario in 1943. Daughter Louise was born during a power outage in Souris while Charlie was on business in Hamiota. Having missed those two important occasions, Charlie was pretty determined, "Lawrence-fashion", to stick closer to home and was present for Johns arrival. Charlie worked for The Wawanesa from 1931 to retirement from the Winnipeg Branch in 1976. In 1961 he prided himself on purchasing Life Policy #13 when the manger, Milt Holden, could find no other buyer for it. Charlie had "gambled"; and recently won the distinguished renown of being one of the few living survivors of the first 100 policies sold for the new life division of the Company, Charlie, his brother Herb, and sister Ethel are unique in the employment history of The Wawanesa, having served 125 years all tolled. When Charlie made a commitment, he would serve each organization, not in terms of years, but in decades. As superintendent for the Wawanesa United Church Sunday School, he served two decades. As a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, he served four and a half decades; as their chaplain he dedicated two and a half decades. He served the Manitoba Red Cross for five decades, and had conferred on him the Distinguished Service Award in 1979. He became a brother in the Masonic Order in 1946 and eventually became Executive Secretary of the Grand Lodge Office in Winnipeg. (In February he spoke with pride of the Masonic Care service, an assist program that he had worked to establish in 1984; it was Mason Care that regularly drove him to his radiation treatments during February and March.) Charlie became a Member of the Royal Order of Scotland in 1981. Other associations found Charlie in their midst, including Bourkevale Square and Round Dance Club, the Outlook Club, the Wildewood Club, and the Society of Fellows of the Insurance Institute of Canada. Dads years of service and support far outweigh his living years - a wonderful legacy. Charlies heart was giant, in caring proportions. In his early teens, Charlie became head of the Lawrence household, as a result of the accidental death of his father, Fred. He did his best to help raise his brother and sister; he was still "fussing" as late as Friday. Charlie still carried his field guide books on bird watching, published in 1925. He lent his baritone voice to several choirs, even during his service years. Charlies care extended beyond his immediate family to a broad group of friends and associates who were constantly in his thoughts. He was a true "people person"; he touched many lives and received back in hundred-fold from others around him. A celebration of Charlies life will be held at Young United Church, Broadway and Furby on Friday, March 31 at 11:00 a.m. The family will inter the ashes Saturday, April 1 in the Wawanesa Cemetery. Flowers are gratefully declined. Those so wishing may make donations in Charlies memory to continue the training of younger voices, via the "Young United Junior Choir Fund". NEIL BARDAL INC. 949 - 2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 28, 2000