Rheanfa Gibbs died peacefully on October 2, 2021 in Trail, BC at the Columbia View Lodge, shortly after her 95th birthday.
Rheanfa Silvey, or Ray as she was known to her friends, was born on September 6, 1926 in The Uplands, in Swansea, South Wales, GB. During World War II, Ray, as a child, lived through the bombing of Swansea, by the German Luftwaffe, who were targeting the steel works, and Swansea ports. Ray remembered how, after a particularly long stretch of waking nightly to the air raid sirens, she was so tired that she begged her mother to let her stay in bed. A bomb did burn a hole in the roof of Ray’s home, luckily with minor damage.
After leaving school, Ray worked in Charley Dickens’ Pharmacy, where she helped compound medicines, and serve customers. As a young woman, Ray enjoyed attending dances in Swansea with her two sisters, Kathleen and Patricia, where one evening she met a young man who would become her future husband, Peter Gibbs of Langland Bay, Mumbles.
In 1950, Ray and Peter got married in Willisden, London. Peter found a job working at Glaxo Laboratories in Stoke Poges, on the development of trial runs which enabled commercial scale production of Penicillin. While living in London, Ray had three children: Denise was born in 1951, Theodore in 1952 and Clare in 1954.
The family returned to South Wales when Peter went to work as a Research Chemist for Dunlop Rubber Company in Bryn Mawr, Breconshire. Later, as Chief Research Chemist, he ran the Semtex pilot plant in Cwmavon. During this time, Ray had another son, Gareth, born in 1958.
In the following years, the economic and business conditions led Ray and Peter to decide to emigrate to Canada, where Peter’s brother John, lived in Edmonton, Alberta. In February 1962, the family moved to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta where Peter initially worked for Sherritt Gordon Mines on their nickel sintering process, where he solved a technical problem the company had producing nickel blanks. Shortly after, the family then moved to Edmonton, where Peter started a small manufacturing company, Foothill Chemicals. Early after the move to Edmonton, Ray gave birth to twin boys, Philip and Caradoc, born in December 31, 1963.
Peter ran Foothill Chemicals for many years with Ray’s help. Ray ran the office and labelled and filled orders. She was the company Secretary, and did the invoicing and receivables. Foothill Chemicals made putty and later other sealants for the building industry, including: caulking compounds, form release, flooring adhesive, asphalt roofing and foundation coatings, and latex paints. Products were eventually sold across Canada from Revelstoke to Thunder Bay.
In the late 1960’s Peter’s company also manufactured pipeline primer under license for the Kendall Company of Canada. In an explosion in the primer mixer in September 1969, Peter suffered 3rd degree burns to 50% of his body. He was lucky to survive, and had skin grafts to both legs and the back of his hands. He returned to work, aided by Rheanfa who had continued to run the caulking side of the business while he was in hospital. Ray also rubbed cream 3 times a day into the skin grafts on Peter’s legs, thus preventing the scar tissue buildup.
In another tragic blow, after returning home from hospital 3 months later, Ray’s eldest son Theodore who came down with flu like symptoms was diagnosed with acute leucocytic leukemia. He died a year and a half later.
In the mid-1970s, Peter, Ray and family moved to Strathmore, Alberta where they farmed a quarter section and kept horses. In addition, Foothill Chemicals continued to manufacture primer in Gleichen, Alberta. At the height of their farming experience, Peter and Ray with their 3 sons harvested an additional section of rented land, planted in wheat and barley. However, a tragic industrial accident in 1980 led to the boys’ deaths. The economic recession then underway in Alberta forced Ray and Peter to close their business and they moved to Lillooet, British Columbia, where they ran a Motel for a year.
After touring BC together, Ray and Peter eventually moved to the Trail Area in 1989 and lived in Oasis. While Peter worked for Johnson Matthey in the Electronic Material Testing Laboratory, Ray repaired their house and planted a lovely garden. After Johnson Matthey relocated to the US, Peter finally retired, and loved to sail with Ray in their houseboat up the Arrow Lakes from Scotty’s Marina, enjoying the spectacular scenery and crystal-clear water, for many years. They also had a floating cabin that they stayed at in all seasons with their dog Alex. They also enjoyed the company of their friends at the Marina.
Ray was predeceased by her husband Peter in 2013, her sisters Kathleen and Patricia, and her sons: Theodore, Gareth, Caradoc, and Philip, and her niece: Gillian. She is survived by her children: Denise Brown (Mark) and Clare Loggie (Jim); grandchildren: Della Loggie and Matt Loggie; niece: Emma (Julian), and nephew: Justin (Angela).
Rheanfa was a very resilient woman who remained independent in her home until age 93, and always made her home a warm place to visit. Ray went to the Columbia View Lodge, after several strokes, and enjoyed participating in the social events. Ray lived a long full life, albeit with the tragedy of surviving her four sons. She will be sorely missed by her family.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Rheanfa Ray Gibbs October 2nd 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Trail, Province: Colombie britanique