Obituary of Isabel Warwick

Obituary for Ada Isabel Jean (Laird) Warwick

November 25, 1927 - September 18, 2024

With deepest sadness, the family of Isabel (Laird) Warwick announce her passing on September 18, 2024 at the gracious age of 96.

Isabel was born November 25, 1927 in the front room she told us of 361 Talbot Street East in Blenheim next door to the original Laird homestead at 363 Talbot Street East. She is predeceased by her brother Archibald Horace Laird (1923-1996) who was also born in the same house and is buried in Grand Lawn Cemetery, Detroit.

The Lairds farmed the land on both sides of Talbot Street from the original Laird homestead to Evergreen Cemetery (Evergreen Cemetery was severed from the Laird farm in 1882).

Isabel is predeceased by her parents, Isabel Ada Betts whose family immigrated from London, England around 1908 to Blenheim to farm, and Donald Harry Laird, a veteran of WW I, whose family immigrated to Blenheim from Stirlingshire, Scotland in 1843.

Despite Isabel’s sharp mind and amazing health, an accidental fall and blow to her head May 25th, changed her independent life forever, and she quickly changed from the behaviour of a 75 year old to her chronological age of 96. Isabel was always advising everyone to be careful and cautious not to fall. Regardless, she fell victim to the same scenario while simply reaching to her dresser.

Isabel is strikingly missed by her two sons, Dr. Bruce Warwick of Chatham, his wife Donna and their two daughters Devon and Katie, and her youngest son Dr. Mark Warwick and his wife Dr. Ann Warwick of Knoxville Tennessee. Our oldest brother Captain Roy Allen Lee Warwick of Guelph, who flew for Canadian Airlines (now Air Canada), predeceased October 18, 1987, and is survived by his wife Doreen Vivian Burton of Guelph and their children Scott Warwick in California and Kelly Warwick in Toronto.

We have a small handful of relatives on the Warwick and Laird side that we grieve with.

Isabel and Bob met in high school, and Bob worked in one of the six branches of Warwick Lumber and Construction, founded in the late 1890’s, in Blenheim. Our family moved to Wallaceburg in 1955 to a branch location there building houses until 1969. Isabel raised the three boys.

In the late 1950’s, Bob and a partner Albert DeRidder, started Seneca Air Services, a commercial flight school and air transport carrier, and Isabel became the bookkeeper. The company thrived and a new partner Murray Ward joined Seneca. During this time, Isabel earned her private pilot’s licence, commercial pilot’s licence, night and floatplane ratings, while still raising a family and managing the administration of Seneca in Wallaceburg. Female commercial pilots were unheard of in this time period.

In 1975, Bob and Isabel moved to Sombra and lived ‘on the river’ for over 40 years, even with Mom alone there after Dad’s unexpected passing in 1996.

In 1992, Bob and Isabel opened Riversite Realty in Wallaceburg, and this company still thrives today. 

In 2017, Isabel moved to Chatham and lived independently in a condominium, only giving up driving by her own ‘good advice’, in 2022. During Isabel’s many years, she somehow also managed to enjoy many sports and hobbies. She oil painted many pictures, created copper renderings, gardened flowers, loved boating, and won many awards carving and painting birdlife and ducks. Isabel enjoyed ice skating and was a member of the Chatham Skating Club for many decades. Isabel and Bob travelled extensively for years, and she carried on with her travels with friends after she was widowed, wintering in Florida for many years. Mom always said it is very important to make new friends, and she was very social. One of her special friends was Bob Trueman of Winnipeg, recently predeceased August 13, 2024, and they shared a friendship, despite the long distance between them, for many years.

Isabel loved her family more than anything, and she cherished her many dear friends. She loved to dance, and Elvis Presley was her favourite performer. She was most conscious of her appearance and especially her hair. Mom loved animals and enjoyed several dogs over the years.

A private family graveside service for Isabel will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Blenheim on Monday September 23, 2024. Then a Celebration of Life will be held at the Links of Kent on October 5, 2024 from 1-4 pm. We wish to invite everyone to join us, because who liked to celebrate and party more than Isabel!

If desired, donations may be made to PAWR at the new Animal Shelter in Chatham.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the McKinlay Funeral Home in Blenheim. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com

McKinlay Funeral Home

141 Park Street, Blenheim

519-676-3451