BRUCE GEORGE LAWLOR

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BRUCE GEORGE LAWLOR, P.Eng. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of George Lawlor on January 19, 2003 at the age of 78 in Winnipeg, MB. He will be dearly missed by his daughter Kim (Steve) and grandchildren, Tristan, Justin, and Jillian; and daughter Vanda (Craig) and grandchildren, Erin and Cameron. George was predeceased by his wife Edna in 1996 and his daughter Darcy in 1970. He leaves to mourn his passing his brother Jack Lawlor (Doreen) of Kenton, MB; and sisters-in-law, Bernice Lawlor of Winnipeg, MB, Jean Smith of Winnipeg, Eleanor Work (Bill) of Calgary, AB, Dorothy Brandt (Clare) of Kelowna, BC, and brothers-in-law, John Anderson (Edna) of Winnipeg and Eddie Trottier of Virden, MB, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and good friends. George was born in 1924 in Kenton, MB. The son of Leander and Jessie Lawlor, and the youngest of a family of eight children, he grew up in Kenton and attended school to grade 11. George then moved to Winnipeg to complete grade 12 and graduate from high school. George started a Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of Manitoba then put his education on hold at the outbreak of the Second World War to enroll in the RCAF and be trained as a navigator, returning to complete his degree in 1950. He met and married Edna (Anderson) while in Winnipeg and started his working career with the Manitoba Diking Board. George and Edna then settled in Edmonton, AB where George accepted a position with Chemcell (Celanese) dealing with petro chemicals and they began to raise their three daughters. George traveled a great deal with his position at Chemcell, which also allowed the entire family to live for a period of time in London, England. In 1968, George accepted the position of Chief Engineer with Rothmans of Pall Mall and the family relocated to Toronto, ON, where he implemented many innovative processes into the manufacturing of the companys products, being responsible for both an Ontario and a Quebec plant. In the early 1980s George returned to the petro chemicals industry and accepted a position with Alberta Gas Chemicals in Calgary, AB as a Deputy Project Manager responsible for overseeing the construction of a $250 million dollar methanol plant in New Zealand. Through the various positions he held in his career, he was able to travel the world over, including visiting Africa, Germany, England, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. It was on these latter trips that Edna was able to accompany him enjoying all of the sites with him. George and Edna semi-retired to Winnipeg in 1988, where he continued to pursue various engineering activities through either his own private practice, the university, or with his engineering association. George loved his engineering, and was a true engineer at heart enthusiastically promoting its virtues to all who would listen. Current topics of interest included methanol, hydrogen, methyl hydrates and chemistry. Georges hobbies over the years included participating in all kinds of sports especially hockey, curling, golf, skating and downhill skiing. In the early 1990s he also became a "pilot" and could often be seen flying his hovercraft over the Red River. He also enjoyed working with his hands and even built his own sailboat to use at his cottage in the Muskokas when the family lived in Toronto. Recent adventures included attending the British Open in England and returning home by container ship across the Atlantic Ocean, riding horses on a dude ranch as a cowboy for a week, and scootering on his scooter around his St. Vital home and community. He was very proud of Kenton, his home town, "the best little town by a dam site" and enjoyed returning to Kenton in the last few years for July long weekends to visit family and friends. George will always be remembered as a loving husband, a kind and gentle father and grandfather, a warm and generous friend, a man with an easy going nature and ultimately independent spirit. He was in constant pursuit of knowledge and adventure for which he will always be missed and thought of often. At Georges request, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held Saturday January 25 at 3:30 p.m. at St. Andrews River Heights United Church (Kingsway at Oak). In lieu of flowers and if friends wish donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 25, 2003