Obituaries

RICHARD (DICK) MITCHELL GIRLING

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Richard (Dick) Mitchell Girling, on Monday, July 23, 2018 at Riverview Health Centre, Winnipeg at the age of 83, a day before his 84th birthday.

Remembering him with love is his wife of 58 years of marriage, Doreen; their children Robert (Anne Louise), Elizabeth-Anne (Kurt) and Mary-Louise (James) as well as grandchildren Sydney, Ashley, Adam and Alec. Also mourning his passing is his twin sister Margaret Burchill and sister Catherine Daghestani (Ali) along with cousins, nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.

Dick was born on July 24, 1934 in Winnipeg and raised in North Battleford, SK.  He entered Royal Roads Military College, Victoria, BC in 1952 and graduated with his diploma in Civil Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON in 1956. He went on to receive his BSc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in 1957. Upon graduating Dick worked as a municipal engineer for a consulting firm in Edmonton. He served as a pilot with the 418 Reserve Squadron flying B-25 Mitchell Bombers and C-45’s until 1959. During this time, he met Doreen Thistlethwaite in Saskatoon and they married on April 16, 1960 in Swift Current, SK.

In 1963 Dick moved his young family to Winnipeg to work as a Design Engineer with the City of Winnipeg Waterworks Waste and Disposal Division. To help the City of Winnipeg end the discharge of raw sewage in local rivers, he was granted a sabbatical to complete post graduate studies at Iowa State University and received his Master of Environmental Engineering in 1970. With this knowledge he led the design and implementation of the South End Waste Treatment Plant, the first treatment plant in Canada to use high purity oxygen in Secondary Treatment, an accomplishment he was proud of. In 1981 Dick took a contract position in Seoul, Korea, to design a water transmission pipeline and water filtration plant for two Korean cities an experience he remembered with fond memories. Dick continued to work for the City of Winnipeg Water Works on many projects until retiring in May 1995 as Engineer of Design and Construction.

In retirement, Dick lived an active and full life with Doreen exploring Lake of the Woods on their sailboat, travelling to visit friends and family both near and far. They always kept busy with their backyard gardening which looked like the International Peace Gardens. They enjoyed volunteering with “Doors Open” with Heritage Winnipeg and also with All Saints’ Anglican Church. Dick was an avid Bomber fan and volunteered for many years at the Winnipeg Blue Bomber games shuttling fans to and from their seats. His fascination with planes continued throughout his life and he volunteered weekly at the Western Canada Aviation Museum where he helped in restoring vintage aircraft and other miscellaneous jobs. One of Dick’s lifelong passions was playing the tuba in the Westwood Community Band for 33 years. He was a long-time supporter of the Manitoba Branch of the RMC Club and always looked forward to attending RMC functions in Winnipeg and reunions in Kingston, ON. All these opportunities led to many acquaintances and dear friends.

Dick loved spending time with his children, and more so, time with his grandchildren, attending activities and concerts and was proud of their achievements and milestones.

Dick accomplished many things during his life, but he will be remembered mostly for his kind, gentle, fun- loving disposition. He will be deeply missed.

A Celebration of Life with reception to follow will be held on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in All Saints’ Anglican Church, Broadway and Osborne at 175 Colony Street, Winnipeg. Parking will be available on the street and at Great West Life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Parkinson’s Canada.

Wojcik’s Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, 2157 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com