Edward “Keith” Urwin died peacefully Sunday, April 17, 2022, at Robertson House retirement residence in Ottawa.

Keith was born December 15, 1933, in Consett, England; the first child of George and Nancy Urwin. He is pre-deceased by both parents and his twin siblings Nancy (Frank Oliver) and Gordon (Janet). Keith is survived by his wife Terry and sons Chris (Janice) and Colin (Sandy) and his beloved grandchildren Sydney, Garrett, Hailey and Charlie.

Keith grew up in a close-knit family in Northern England.  His childhood memories of watching Spitfires engage German bombers with shell casings rattling on nearby rooftops, and war-time rationing, enthralled his children and grandchildren. As a young man in post-war England, he was called to national service and joined the RAF as a navigator. Flying in planes that are now famous, including the Mosquito and Halifax, a personal highlight for the young man included a trip to Tripoli.

After leaving the RAF, Keith embarked on a banking career that would last four decades. While working in Consett, he applied to positions in London and overseas. In 1958, Keith traveled to Canada to take a job with the Bank of Montreal in Ottawa. At a party with ex-pat friends he met his bride-to-be, Thérèse (Terry) Martin. Within a year they were married and living in Hull, before moving to La Salle to work with Montreal Trust. 

In 1966, Terry and Keith welcomed their first child, Chris. A year later they moved to Truro, Nova Scotia, where Keith managed the local Montreal Trust branch and became actively engaged in the community. He became treasurer of their church and the local Kiwanis club, as well as president of the Hillcrest Manors retirement home and the first elected chairman of the Colchester County School Board. The couple welcomed their second son, Colin, in 1971. Keith and Terry made many great lifelong friends in Truro and enjoyed raising their young family in this idyllic small town.

No one who knew him would accuse Keith of being a tremendous athlete. But he was extremely sociable, a good dancer and enjoyed friends and business colleagues. One perk of his career was memberships in golf and social clubs. In 1979, he was golfing with his eldest son at the Truro Golf Club. On the 6th hole, which included a water hazard, Chris – in his “role” as caddy – provided Keith with an appropriate ball: a Spalding Rebel with a ring around it. Undeterred by his son's lack of faith, Keith took the club back and hit a true shot that bounced twice and fell in the hole. Drinks were on him. The Spalding Rebel went into the trophy he received from the golf club manufacturer.

In 1980, the family moved to Winnipeg as Keith had been promoted to a role in a much larger Montreal Trust office. This was a dramatic change for the family, and they stayed in Winnipeg for only a couple of years. Keith was then moved to Kingston, Ontario, which reminded the family more of the East Coast; but only two years later they were called back to Winnipeg for another promotion. Keith enjoyed the social club and golf club memberships in Winnipeg, as did the rest of the family. He finally retired from his career in 1993 and shortly afterwards he and Terry moved back to Truro and eventually back to Ottawa.

In their life together, Keith and Terry lived in 16 different houses. Not surprisingly, their children were often asked if their parents were in the military. Keith's last move was his least favourite -- to his retirement residence -- after a long hospital stay. It was the first time he'd been separated from his wife of 60 years. Covid protocols made it even harder. 

The family would like to thank Keith's countless doctors, nurses and care givers.  Particular thanks to Solomon and Cindy at Robertson House, who made his time there a little more bearable. Keith has already been cremated and his ashes will be spread later this spring. A wake for family and friends in England and Canada will also be held. In lieu of flowers, donations in Keith's name can be made to Parkinson Canada.