Ruth Teeple died in 2021 - With profound sadness, Ruth's family announces her recent death at Royal Columbian Hospital on August 18th, her heartbroken daughter Caitlin at her side.
Ruth spent her early years in Lynn Valley and when she was 7, her family moved to West Vancouver. Living nearby Capilano Canyon Park imbued in Ruth an abiding love and deep respect for the natural world. She spent many hours walking in the park with the family dog, Tess.
After high school, Ruth developed her artistic talent in the Fine Arts program at Langara. Later, during a 35 year career at BC Tel/Telus, she earned a diploma in Graphic Arts at ECCAD.
In addition to making beautiful lino cuts, Ruth enjoyed sewing, quilting, strumming the banjo and ukelele, and playing Scrabble and Cribbage.
As as a sign of ending the lifelong Scrabble rivalry with her sister Tracy, in their last game Ruth gave her opponent unfettered access to the X, opening up a possible triple word score. It was good for a laugh.
When she was 50, Ruth pursued her love of sailing first developed when, as a teenager, she took lessons at the Hollyburn Sailing Club. She moored her Northwest 21 at Reed Point Marina, where she met Ric Harrington, a fellow sailor. Ruth and Ric shared their love and lives on and off the water for 19 years. Ric showed his deep devotion to her in caring for Ruth in her last weeks at home.
Ruth was an utterly humble, wise, generous, and empathetic soul who enjoyed the odd pun and revelled in reading literature and poetry, as well reading the antics of Bertie Wooster and Adrian Mole.
Ruth cared deeply for nature and loved to walk, often with her and Ric's mini daxie, Olive. She was very troubled by human encroachment on animal and avian territory, and the destruction of trees for the convenience of real estate developement. For several years, Ruth was a volunteer with the Wildlife Rescue Association.
Our dear Ruth — mother, grandmother, partner, friend, aunt, and sister — will be so missed by son Ira Young (Caitlin Lamb); daughter Caitlin Lewis (Rob), grandson Braxden; brother Charles (Debra), nieces Victoria (Josh Carter) and Rosalind; and sister Tracy. Ruth was deeply appreciated by Ric's children and grandchildren: Erin Bartley (Jeff), Ella; Robert Harrington (Satomi), Kenzo; and Stewart Harrington (Joselin), Ivory, Jack, and José. Also mourning her death are dear friends Joanne Oye, her husband, Bruce Main, and longtime friend Jackie Birtch. Ruth's daxie, Olive, is heartbroken her biggest fan and ball thrower is no longer here.
Cremation. No serice at Ruth's request. Flowers gratefully declined. If so moved, donations in Ruth's honour may be made to the Wildlife Rescue Association.
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