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Ruth Florence Gripper
It is with great sadness that we announce that Ruth, at age 91,
passed away peacefully on June 30, 2023, surrounded by her loving
family.
She was born in Brazil in 1931 to British parents where her father ran a coffee plantation. They later moved to Singapore. In 1942 when Singapore was invaded during the war her father, at that time an officer in the British army, was taken prisoner of war and she and her mother were hastily evacuated to Perth, Australia, where they spent the war years. Near the end of the war, Ruth and her mother returned by ship to England via the Panama Canal to New York where they joined a convoy of ships for the hazardous passage across the Atlantic. Ruth took up nursing and midwifery where she met a young student doctor, Nigel Gripper, while she was delivering a baby. They fell in love, and married in May 1956. They had a son Robert in 1958, before moving to Gibraltar for Nigel’s three years of compulsory military service, and where their daughter Jane was born in 1960. They returned to England before moving to Canada in 1963. After a year in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, they settled in Alliston. Ruth was an avid gardener and took joy in her beautiful garden, her happy place. She loved playing tennis, golf, swimming, biking, skiing, walking, sailing, travelling, and going to the theatre with her friends.
Known for her ability to nurture orphaned and injured animals, she
often had baby birds, squirrels, and other little critters brought to her for her loving care. In the 90’s she spent six years working alongside Nigel in the office at Medical Associates. She volunteered in the community for the Willa Ireland School, the Hospital Auxiliary, the Alliston Humane Society and, in her mid-eighties, delivered food for Meals on Wheels with Nigel. Her shortbread at Christmas was in high demand and she would bake lots of them each year for fund-raisers and to give to friends and family. Over the course of her life, Ruth travelled to 40 different countries. In their mid-70’s, Ruth and Nigel did a 2-week canoe trip to the Keel River in the Northwest Territories where Ruth enjoyed the experience of being a proud Canadian. A cottage on Haliburton Lake was a favourite spot of hers. Ruth had been a competitive swimmer in her youth, and a keen swimmer all her life. At the age of 75, she decided to swim across the lake and did so with ease, much to the amazement of her family. Ruth loved to watch family sports and was often at the sidelines cheering enthusiastically when her kids, and then her grandkids, were competing. She adored and was so proud of her kids, grandkids, and greatgrandkids and they, as well as so many people in the community, adored her. She was beautiful, kind, loving, gentle, and selfless with a great sense of humour.
Ruth will be missed by her beloved husband Nigel, her children
Robert Gripper (Kelly), Jane Troop (Ken Fisher), grandchildren Emily
Gripper (Warren Olmstead)), Lucy Gripper, Sarah Troop (Josh Uttley),Bobby Troop (Janelle), Thomas Troop (Olivia), great grandchildren, Bear, Bowie, Isla, Mack and Cal; and her dear friend Jean Marshall. She will also be missed by her nieces and nephews. Ruth is predeceased by her father Robert Pinhey, mother Sylvia Pinhey, sister Cynthia O’Donovan, and brother Robert Pinhey.
The family wishes to express a special thank-you to Shelley Manifold for her kindness and help and to Christine Birkett of Home Care for the invaluable support she provided during Ruth’s last months of her struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
A celebration of Ruth’s life will be held at Drury Funeral Centre 519 Victoria St. E., Alliston on Friday July 14, 2023 from 2 – 5 p.m. with remembrances shared at 3:30 p.m.
If so desired, memorial donations may be made to the Alliston and
District Humane Society.
To send flowers to the family of Ruth, please
visit our floral store.
November 12 1931
June 30 2023
Death notice for the town of: Alliston, Province: Ontario
death notice Ruth Gripper November 12 1931
June 30 2023
obituaries notice Ruth Gripper November 12 1931
June 30 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ruth Gripper November 12 1931
June 30 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.