Obituary of DARTNELL – Lorne Smith

April 17, 1923 – November 05, 2009 It is with great sorrow that the family and friends of Lorne Smith Dartnell announce his sudden passing at his home in Calgary on Thursday morning, November 5, 2009. Lorne was born on April 17, 1923 in Winnipeg, MB, the son of Edward Smith Dartnell and Valerie Pritchard and the brother to Clinton and Rita. He grew up in Winnipeg during the Great Depression and from 1941 to 1944 proudly served his country and the United States overseas in Italy and elsewhere in Western Europe during the Second World War as a member of the First Special Service Force, commonly known to many as the “Black Devils”. Included in his military service was the liberation of the French Riviera town of Menton. Following his discharge from service, he returned to his family in Winnipeg where he met and married Roma Vause. He instituted a materials and testing lab for use in road construction and also worked with an oil exploration firm in Peace River, Alberta. Lorne and Roma subsequently settled in Edmonton and started a family with the birth of their daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Olsen (nee Dartnell) in 1956 and followed by the birth of their son, Douglas Smith Dartnell in 1957. In 1951, Lorne graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Subsequently, he obtained his Professional Engineer designation from APEGGA in Edmonton in October of 1955 and became a board examiner and Life Member. From 1958 through 1986 Lorne was employed as a civil engineer by the City of Edmonton and was instrumental in developing quality control and materials standards, which standards were used in roadway construction around the world. In his spare time he built a number of houses, the last of which was the family home. Lorne retired from full time work in Edmonton in 1988 but continued to do independent road repair under contract for various municipalities including Edmonton. Lorne enjoyed being physically fit and active and vacationing in Arizona. He subsequently moved to Calgary where he lived until his death. In addition to Roma, Nancy and Douglas, Lorne is survived by his close friend and companion, Charlene Veness; his daughter-in-law Lee Marjorie Dartnell (nee Bibby) of Calgary; his son-in-law William Robert Olsen of Saskatoon; his granddaughter Jana Lee Dartnell of Calgary; his granddaughter Kathryn Lise Dartnell of Edmonton; and grandson James Martin Olsen of Saskatoon. He will be missed by all. At Lorne’s request his final resting place will be Winnipeg, MB. A memorial service will follow at a later date. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Lorne Dartnell, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.