LAWLER, WILLIAM “BILL” RALPH August 3, 1928 – November 4, 2018 Peacefully, after a short stay at Baycrest Apotex, with loved ones present.
Loving husband of the late S. Dolores (nee Eylands) whom he desperately missed since her passing in March 2011; he faithfully took her place as the beloved and respected doyen of the family, but was ready to join her, his sister Ruth (Donald McCracken) and other loved family members and friends who predeceased him. Now, he in turn will be missed by many relatives and friends, especially his admiring children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their spouses, who were blessed by his wit, wisdom, kindness and Irish luck.
Bill was father of Daniel (Olimpia Alegria-Lawler), Lucinda (Richard McKinnon), Lilia and Lisa (Max Boutin) and grandfather of Allison and Jill Lawler, Olimpia Alegria Jr., Lillian McKinnon (Graham Fielding) and Philip and Gerard Boutin; great-grandfather to Kyrin and Declan Lawler Harrison and Rowan and Isla McKinnon Fielding. Bill, second child of Alma (nee Boucock) and Ralph Lawler, enjoyed growing up in Lindsay, Ontario, with his sibling Ruth. With high school and early jobs ranging from stock boy and milk delivery to bank teller, he was eager to see the world when he joined the RCAF in 1946. He earned his wings in 1948 and served as air transport pilot, test instructor and fighter pilot, mainly on Harvards, C-45 Expediters, C-47 Dakotas, T-33 Silver Stars, C-119 Boxcars, B-25 Mitchells, P-51 Mustangs and CF-100 Canucks. He enjoyed his postings including Gimli, Manitoba, where he met and pursued Dolores; Trenton where they lived as newlyweds and Ottawa where their three oldest children were born. Some of his more memorable years were the family’s posting with the Air Division in Europe, in Lorraine, France, where he was Squadron Leader (430 Squadron, flying F-86 Sabres) and their two and a half years living in the Italian community in Sardinia, Italy, where he was COpsO (Chief Operations Officer) and their fourth child was born.
Returning to Staff College in Toronto in 1965, Bill and his family were then posted to Montreal where, due to unification, he became a Major and after hours earned a B.A. (Concordia) in Political Science. Their next posting was Ottawa where again, in his scant spare time, he earned an M.A. (Carleton) in International Affairs. Retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1975, having studied war and its deterrents, he joined the Department for Disarmament Affairs at the United Nations Secretariat in New York City, where the family embraced the polyglot, polychrome environment and he earnestly sought a better, more stable world.
As always, he and Dolores enjoyed hosting family and friends at their home in Scarsdale during this time. Following his retirement as a Director from the U.N. in 1988, he and Dolores repatriated to the Toronto area, though he continued as a consultant in arms control and disarmament with the U.N. until 1992 when he fully retired.
We are all humbly grateful that Bill was given a very full, constructive life, which truly contributed to a better world, albeit perhaps in many modest ways.
The family would like to celebrate Bill’s life with relatives and friends at St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church, 19 Don Ridge Drive, Toronto, on November 22, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. with reception following.
In lieu of flowers, if desired, memorial donations to Sunnybrook or Princess Margaret Hospital or one’s charity of choice would be welcomed.