PACKARD, Lucius
Packard, Lucius Henry (Major Ret’d), on November 13th in his 92nd year, after a short illness, at his home in Residence Pierce, Stanstead, Quebec. Loving husband to the late Elaine Goodall, cherished father to Penny (John Logan) and Jeffrey (Buffy Williams), fond grandfather to Christopher, Douglas and Braden, and dear brother to Bob Packard, Marguerite Luckhurst and the late Frank (Pat) Packard. Lou was the eldest son of noted Canadian author Frank L. Packard and his wife Pearl Macintyre Packard. He was brought up in Lachine. The Packard family home was a stone’s throw from Lac St Louis, and Lou grew up to be a keen lover of all water sports. He was also an ardent Boy Scout and in 1929 attended the World Jamboree in Arrowe Park, England. Lou had dreamed of a military career and in 1932 he entered the Royal Military College in Kingston as recruit 2294. He graduated from the College in 1936 having won the Wurtle Trophy and aquatic championship twice each. He then enlisted in the British Army, attended the School of Artillery in Larkhill, England, and obtained an officer’s commission and a posting with a regiment of Mountain Artillery operating in the Northwest Frontier Province of British India. During the war Lou also served in campaigns in British Somaliland, Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Eritrea and Palestine. After the war Lou joined the family shoe business and was involved in this industry in various managerial and executive positions until he retired. In 1946 Lou met Elaine (Twink) Goodall. They married in ‘48 and enjoyed 54 years of marriage until Elaine’s death in 2002. Apart from family, the love and passion of Lou and Elaine’s lives was their cottage at Cedarville on Lake Memphremagog. Here and in Montreal, Lou enjoyed an exceptionally active retirement. He was a keen amateur historian, (family, military, and global political), a respectable curler and proud member of the Royal Montreal Curling Club, and a very self-reliant handyman and “builder” of things both great and small. Lou was a fine orator, and a consummate story-teller with a wonderful sense of humour. He was disturbingly accurate in recounting historical and geographic minutia, or at the very least, he was damn good liar! In truth a more honest, loyal and dedicated man would be difficult to imagine. He was a gentleman. Thus it is not surprising that Lou had so many dear friends throughout his life. We shall all, family and friends, remember him with great fondness. A life well lived, A man well loved Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, remembrances to the charity of your choice would be sincerely appreciated by the family.
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