Obituary of Richard Armour

Armour, Orin Richard passed away July 15th, 2022 aged 97, at the John Noble Home in Brantford, Ontario. Richard (or Dick as he was usually known) was the second youngest and last surviving member of twelve children born to Samuel Armour and Fannie Barker of Debec, New Brunswick. In 1925, Richard was born into a world of Model Ts, steam trains and hard farm work. In 1943 he volunteered for the RCAF as an aero-engine mechanic. A bout of scarlet fever prevented him from serving overseas during WWII, but he was forever grateful for that start in the aircraft industry he loved. Richard became a flight engineer and co-pilot with Trans Canada Airlines (later Air Canada), then from 1961-1992 he worked for Canadair Ltd of Montreal (now Bombardier Aerospace), playing a major role in the development of iconic Canadian aircraft such as the CL41 Tutor (still flying with the Snowbirds), the CL215/CL415 Waterbomber, the CL600 Challenger and the Canadair Regional Jet. There was no mechanical device he couldn’t repair and rebuild. Whether it was a Merlin aero-engine or a 1970s Volkswagen Beetle engine; he could finesse them all - especially if one of his sons was nearby to hold the work light or hand him a 9/16” box-end wrench. Richard first met the love of his life, Dorothy Laverty, as a child in Debec. They lost touch when her father joined the RCAF but met again by chance in Moncton during the war and were married in 1947. Dorothy and Richard were together nearly seventy years, raised three sons to adulthood and traveled all over Canada and the US, eventually retiring to Qualicum Beach, British Columbia in 1992. With Dorothy’s passing, Richard made one last move to Brantford, Ontario. Richard was predeceased by his wife Dorothy in 2017, his son David in 2018 and his son John Duncan in 1988. He is survived by son Steven (Laura), daughter-in-law Betty Lou (David) and son Christopher (Kathleen) as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Interment will be at the McKenzie Corner Cemetery near Debec at a future date. Arrangements are entrusted to the Beckett-Glaves Family Funeral Centre, (519) 752-4331. Donations to Alzhiemers Society of Canada (https://alzheimer.ca), the John Noble Home (https://www.jnh.ca) or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. Donations and condolences are available online at www.beckettglaves.com. A tree will be planted in memory of Richard in the Beckett-Glaves Memorial Forest.