RICHARD HENRY (DICK) CONDIE

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

RICHARD HENRY (DICK) CONDIE Peacefully on February 21, 2005 in his 91st year, Dad left us to join his beloved wife who predeceased him in 2002. In action faithful and in honour clear Who broke no promise, serv'd no private end Who gained no title, who lost no friend. Dick was born in Regina on June 15, 1913, one of six children. His father was president of the Saskatchewan Poetry Society for many years, his mother died when he was ten. For three years in his early twenties Dick was one of the directors of the Regina Boys Club. He began work at an early age for the Canada Permanent Mortgage Corp., moved with them to Vancouver in 1937 when he married Edith Gallagher and remained with them until he enlisted in the army from 1940 to 1945. Dick and Edith had two children, Sharon and Richard. In 1946 he joined his childhood friend Bob Cook in Winnipeg where he worked in the insurance business until 1971. He belonged to the Winnipeg Executive Club. Dad loved to be on the move and we reaped the benefit. The family travelled every summer. Dick and Edith saw the whole of Canada and many parts of the United States, and during their year long stay in London, they explored every nook and cranny of the British Isles and Europe as far as Istanbul. A wonderful curiosity led them to places they shouldn't have gone. They explored Mt. St. Helens just a day before it blew. They snuck into archaeological sites. They spent many winters in Arizona and exploring the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. On their return, Dick and Edith moved back to Vancouver Island. He had an emerald thumb and an appreciation of natural beauty. Everywhere he lived dad created a lush and beautiful garden. In his 91st year on our weekly excursions to Assiniboine Park's English Garden, he would constantly marvel at its beauty. Affectionate, demonstrative, completely devoted to his wife Edith for their 65 years of marriage until Edith's death in 2002, he was at her bedside every day for hours in the last year and a half of her life. Always generous and tolerant, his actions all through his life demonstrated a man of service trusted by everyone. We were extremely fortunate to have such a father and we will greatly miss his wit and thoughtfulness. Dad was predeceased by four of his siblings, James, Mary, Edmund and Betty. Left to mourn his passing are his children, Sharon and Rich and his sister Jessie Condie in Regina and a batch of uncommonly fine relatives including especially, the Pinch and Gronick families who shared many happy times with mum and dad in Victoria. Their wishes were that their ashes be mingled, inseparable forever as in life, and so they have been. There will be no funeral; instead there will be a memorial service in Regina at a later date. Dick and Edith will be laid to rest in Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery, Regina, where many of their family lie. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada. Our thanks to the staff of the Victoria Hospital, Tuxedo Villas and Thomson Funeral Chapel for their care.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 26, 2005