Lordco founder Edward W. Coates passed away on Monday, after a short, 芒鈧揷ourageous芒鈧� battle with cancer.
Coates was co-founder of Lordco Auto Parts, which maintains its head office in Maple Ridge.
He was also a husband, father, grandfather, a loyal friend and a芒鈧� highly respected芒鈧� business leader, according to information released this week on the Lordco website.
The company was incorporated in August 1974, by its two founding members, Roy Lord and Ed Coates. A combination of their surnames gave the company its name.
The Coates family, in a press release issued late Wednesday afternoon, said he 芒鈧損assed away peacefully, with his family at his side.芒鈧�
They added Coates was a 芒鈧搕rue pioneer in his industry, a visionary and a born leader.芒鈧�
Coates guided all four of his children, Samantha, Sarah, Ian, and Candace, as they started with Lordco, and progressed through to key roles in the company.
Coates was born on June 23, 1948, in New Westminster, the second son of five children.
In the early 1970s, he and Marlyn owned and operated the Derby Drive-In in Fort 91原创, where Ed would flip burgers at night, while selling parts during the day for Walker芒鈧劉s, 芒鈧揳ll the while working towards his dream of establishing his own company.芒鈧�
Now the company Coates co-founded has 97 locations throughout B.C.
芒鈧揟he automotive industry has lost a true original who built a unique business model that will be emulated for years to come,芒鈧� said the release.
芒鈧揂lthough Ed has left us far too soon, he has touched innumerable lives along his journey,芒鈧� said a spokesperson for the family. 芒鈧揌e will live in our memories forever.芒鈧�
At the family芒鈧劉s request, details of the memorial ceremony are being kept private and will not be made public.
