Larry Drysdale
Died: December 30, 2024 | Place: London, Ontario
Services
Visitation
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
2:00 -2:45 pm
A. Millard George Funeral Home
60 Ridout Street South
London, Ontario
N6C 3X1
Service
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
3:00 pm
A. Millard George Funeral Home
60 Ridout Street South
London, Ontario
N6C 3X1
Obituary
DRYSDALE, Larry
Roderick “Larry” Drysdale passed away peacefully in London, Ontario, on Monday, December 30th, 2024. He was 84. Loving father of Carla Drysdale of France. Dear grandfather of David and Rafael. Beloved brother of Heather (John), Gordon, Harvey (Gladys), Catherine (Jim), Patrick (Catherine) and Mary-Lynn (Robert). Predeceased by his brother Dick. Larry will also be missed by his nieces and nephews.
Larry was an avid and accomplished distance runner who competed in many road races including the prestigious Boston Marathon, twice. He was fond of exercise at the YMCA, as well as walking, sports, horses, crosswords, fifties music and gunpowder green tea at noon at “CCs” — but his biggest passion was sharing in conversation with his family and friends.
A talented land surveyor and draftsman, Larry worked on many city maps during his 30-plus year career at London City Hall as an Engineering Assistant.
Larry always tried to help the less fortunate and in particular he helped youth trying to find opportunities and their own path. He was known for his soft spoken nature, his kindness, his tolerance of others, his generosity, his humour, his great smile and his big heart. As Larry often said at the end of calls with his grandsons, “Awwwoooo!”
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held at A. Millard George Funeral Home, 60 Ridout Street South, London, from 2:00-2:45 pm on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. The service will follow in the funeral home chapel at 3:00 pm. Donations in memory of Larry may be made to London Health Sciences Foundation. Online condolences, memories and photographs shared at www.amgfh.com
12 Comments
Write a Condolence
Submit A Photo
Photos
Make a Donation in honour of Larry Drysdale
Family's Preferred Charity: London Health Sciences Foundation
Please mail your donations directly to the charity
OR
Use the link below to complete your donation online.
Please complete the following so the family can acknowledge donations.
Donations
Audrianna Dunn - London Health Sciences Foundation
Burke Flowers
When you order funeral flowers from Burke Flowers, our skilled and compassionate florist will work directly with the funeral home to ensure that your delivery is timely and accurate. Same-day delivery is often available, please call (519) 672-8190 || (800) 303-7413 for a more customized experience.
Grandpa Larry was a deeply joyful man to be around.
Always looking to make his friends, family and even strangers share a smile.
A kind soul who lived a great long life.
I’m greatful to have had Larry as my grandfather, he loved his family so deeply and were priveledged to have had him in our lives.
We pray you are somewhere better Larry.
Thank you for being such a wonderful radiant person!
My grandfather Larry Drysdale was one of the kindest people I have met. He was very attentive and always listened to you when having a conversation with him. He loved hearing about what was going on in our family’s life in France, and most of all he loved spending time with his family, even if it was over a video call. He was always so thankful to have the opportunity to speak with us over the phone and see our faces, which couldn’t stop smiling while speaking to him. Perhaps I wasn’t able to get to know him as much as I would’ve liked, but I am eternally grateful for how lucky we were to spend time together at the Drysdale family reunion, and of course on our amazing trip to Prince Edward County last summer. He had the most wonderful time there and you could tell he was so incredibly happy to be with us, as we were with him. I am just so thankful that he spent the last months of his life being happy, relaxed and being in contact with his family who he loved so dearly. A fond memory I have with Larry would be of my mom and I playing badminton at our AirBnb in PEC. Larry came outside to watch us and had a big smile on his face, you could tell that he was so thrilled to be with his family on a vacation in Canada, just simply being in their company and spending time with them, I think that’s what he loved the most.
Although I am sad that I will never be able to speak to him again, I know that many do not get the same opportunity to spend time with their passed loved ones like we did, and for that I am very very thankful.
You will be missed Grandpa,
Love you lots, and sending so many Awooooooooos!
Larry was such a kind and sweet soul. I used to serve him his green tea, with a couple of ice cubes to make it drinkable.
I remember chatting with him on the patio during my breaks. Talking photography and listening to him speak about his daughter.
He was very proud of her and her accomplishments and he glowed as he spoke.
He loved us all at Coffee Culture. He said so many times.
I only hope Larry knew he was just as loved by all of us and that he will be missed more than he would ever have thought.
Rest peacefully Larry. You’ve earned it.
Every time I reach for a Gunpowder Green tea from now on, you, Sir, will be remembered fondly.
My condolences to friends and family.
I knew Larry from Coffee culture and I saw him almost every day. He was always smiling and happy to chat. He loved talking about Carla and his grandsons, sharing pictures and stories. I feel as though I know them. Larry will be truly missed by everyone at Coffee Culture and truly all that met him.
Rest in peace, Larry.
Larry was part of our family at the Fox and Fiddle, he always had a smile on his face and a story to share.
Rest in peace, Larry.
Larry was a good friend for several years while he was at city hall. He was very proud of his daughter and he talked also about of his ex-wife who was working at the University of Notre-Dame.
Unfortunately, I am now 87 and will be unable to attend the funeral because my son will be in Toronto on the 22nd (and my daughters live in France and in California).
Our running community and our city lost one of its kindest – Larry had the best smile and a beautiful and humble warmth around him. He was a regular customer at the YOU Made It Cafe; specifically seeking out the space so he could support youth. I enjoyed hearing his stories and sharing a few of my own whenever I bumped into him. He was very proud of his family and loved chatting about them. Sending condolences to Larry’s family and friends.
Though I only met Larry a few times over the years through the running community he made you feel that you were special -kind, caring, a really beautiful spirit –he will be truly missed
I will also remember Larry for always dropping into Runners’ Choice and volunteering at our road races. We could always count on Larry to help at water stations or the finish line.
He was a great friend to the London running community.
You will be missed Larry.
We send our love and prayers for comfort to Carla, David and Rafael as you grieve the loss of your incomparable dad and grandpa, Larry. What a sweet, gentle, kind soul of a man. We delighted in getting to know Larry during our trip with him, Carla and the boys to Prince Edward County last summer. Larry would enjoy his morning coffee by the lake in the early morning sun, proudly sharing stories about Carla when she was a wee girl, and about traveling with his much-loved grandsons. With deep affection and appreciation, he talked about his dear friends at Coffee Culture, his running pals and the kind neighbours in his apartment building. Larry also described his challenging upbringing as a young boy–tough experiences that perhaps shaped him into the compassionate, humble and wise listener that he was. Go well, Larry. We are better people for having known you, albeit all too briefly.
Larry Drysdale was my father-in-law.
He was also the loving grandfather to my two sons, Rafael and David. Larry was a sweet, kind man who loved his two grandchildren very much and they loved him. I know that it gave Larry a lot of joy to be in the boys’ lives. I felt it was important for my kids to have Larry be part of their lives. We were happy to have Larry come and visit in New York City. I’m so glad he was able to come visit us in France and spend more time with them when the boys were older. Carla made an effort to keep the boys and Larry in touch with each other as they became older teens they developed their own relationship with him. I would see in Larry’s expression the joy that it brought him talking to David and Rafael. We’ll miss Larry. My sincere condolences to Carla and the Drysdale family.
Larry was such a kind, gentle man with a big smile. Always eager to show pictures that his daughter Carla had sent him.I knew Larry from Covent Garden Market.It was always great to see him. Sadly I just found out yesterday that he had passed away. My sincere condolences to Carla & grandsons who he loved so much & was so proud of.He will really be missed