It is with sadness that we share that our former colleague and friend, Arch Lawrence passed away on Saturday, February 24th.
Arch was a valued Associate Partner when SB was called Scott, Batenchuk & Company and retired in April 1997. If you did not know Arch, you probably know Beth. Beth helped us during tax season up until last year. She is much loved by all who know her and all of our thoughts are with her and her family during this difficult time.
Arch was the Carey Grant of the accounting profession. Carey Grant was a screen icon who made films in the 1960’s and who was considered a true gentleman. That was Arch. He was a classy guy with a quick wit and great sense of humour, and I remember he liked a good scotch. Many of Arch’s clients are still with us.
Obituary for Archibald “Arch” Lawrence
On February 24, with family at his side, our beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away peacefully. He leaves his other half, his wife Beth, his children Chris and her partner Ken, Cathy and her husband Skeeter, Janet, Jodi and her husband Todd and Nancy and her husband Mark, and grandchildren Peaches, Kali, Asia, Evan and Reid. Predeceased by his siblings, Nancy, Tom and Bill, he also leaves behind his brother, Frank and his wife Ruth and his nieces and nephews and their children. Born in Galt, in 1932, Arch attended Galt Collegiate Institute and then attended the University of Western Ontario Business School. After university Arch practiced as a Chartered Accountant while secretly pining for a career as a carpenter. He loved to build furniture and a little Mirror dinghy he learned to sail. A natural athlete, he frequently excelled at any sport he took up, including golf, skiing and tennis, although his mushball team was notoriously more hapless. A lover of theatre and music, with show tunes a favourite, it’s no surprise that Arch trod the boards himself a couple of times with the Hamilton Little Theatre. His main “hobby”, however, other than his family, was following politics. He planned family vacations to Washington during the Watergate years and the current theatrics south of the border both engaged and enraged him. Arch loved to camp but in his later years he set up shop in Naples, Florida for several winters, where he made several great friends. Arch enjoyed many adventures, one of his most recent was co-piloting a WWll Mustang lV. With a great sense of humour and fun however, and a keen interest in the stories of others, he most loved being with his family and friends. His caring yet witty and erudite nature will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved him.Our grateful thanks to Dr. Proctor and the nurses at Joseph Brant on six south for their excellent care of Arch. As an avid birdwatcher and a lover of nature, for those who choose, donations can be made in his memory to “Ontario Nature”. A celebration of life will be held at The Burlington Golf and Country Club on April 8, between 1:00 and 4:00.
