Obituary of Robert Conrad IRVING

May 14, 1929 – Toronto, Ontario
April 18, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Robert Conrad Irving, a resident of United Active Living (UAL) Fish Creek, Calgary, passed away peacefully with his daughter at his side on Sunday, April 18, 2021 at the age of 91 years.

Con was born in Toronto, ON on May 14, 1929 to Mildred and Sidney. Throughout his early years Con was an outdoorsman, enjoying to hunt, fish, canoe, tennis, golf, and ski with his many childhood friends.  After successfully completing a sales course, he began his career as a clothing accessory salesman for the Scythes & Company.  It was there that he met the love of his life, Dorothy Florence, whom he married in 1954, and together went on to have three children, Jeff, Leslie, and Karen.

In 1967 Con moved his family west and settled in Calgary, where he continued his career as a Sales Manager at the Kendall Company. Con became actively involved in golf as a proud member of the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club where he held several positions on the board as well as with the Alberta Golf Association.  During the winter Con curled in the Oilmen’s League and travelled to many bonspiels. Con continued to work in the oil patch for the balance of his working life until his retirement from the Summit Tubular Corporation in 1994. 

During his retirement Con and his wife Dorothy travelled the globe and sometimes brought their golf clubs. He also joined a bowling league and became a master at crossword puzzles. Con was artistically inclined and in retirement life he took up wood carving. As a member of his local carving group, he perfected his carving skills which include carving birds, Santa Claus faces, carousel horses, miniature men, wood spirits and feathers. Con received several awards for his work and was especially proud of his bird carvings.  

Con was a very social person, possessed a quick wit and loved to engage complete strangers in conversation. He kept in touch with his golf buddies and friends from the oil patch on a regular basis. During Cons time living at UAL, he made many new friends, took part on several resident committees, and discovered his love for painting. 

Con was a great husband and father. He participated in gardening, bridge and golf with Dorothy and was active in his children’s lives. Con’s passion for life also carried over to his six wonderful grandchildren and their loved ones.

Con is survived by his wife of sixty-six years Dorothy; his children, Jeff (Janet), Leslie (Don), Karen (Brian); and grandchildren, Lindsay, Michelle (Alex), Stephanie (Solange), Shannon (Jordan), Kevin, and Brandon (Jordan) and was predeceased by his brother Donald.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Con’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

The family would like to thank UAL staff, and the Palliative Care Team for all their care at the end of Con’s life.

In living memory of Con Irving, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB T2X 3J3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.