Ruth EVANS
March 26, 1920 — October 23, 2016
Ruth Daintree Gordon Browne Evans passed away October 23, 2016. She was born March 26, 1920 in Buenos Aires, Argentina to English parents Frederick and Teresa Daintree.
Ruth graduated from the British Hospital Nursing School of Argentina, then went to England and became a Q.A. (Imperial Military Nursing Service) during World War II. In 1943 she married an American doctor, Captain Gerald Gordon. At the war’s conclusion, Ruth and the couple’s first two children sailed to the USA aboard the ship Queen Mary; they were later joined by Dr. Gordon to settle in Wilmington, Delaware. As their family grew to six children, they moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania, where Ruth was active with the League of Women Voters.
In 1971 the Gordon’s retired to The British Virgin Islands and built a home atop Great Camanoe Island. Ruth assisted her husband’s founding of the BVI Mental Health department and helped start Fort Charlotte School and the Diabetes Association Clinic. She was very involved with the Red Cross and helped train home health aides. She was always available to help anyone in need.
In 1999 Ruth received the M.B.E., Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for significant achievement for the U.K., awarded during Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday celebration ceremonies in the BVI.
Ruth was predeceased by Dr. Gerald Gordon in 1976, then Jack Browne, to whom she was briefly married in 1982, and Emmett Evans, with whom she shared thirty years of marriage living in the BVI and later at Cypress Village in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2015. Also, predeceased by a sister Beryl Darby and brother Ronald Daintree, both of Buenos Aires.
Ruth continued volunteering into her 90’s at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. She and Emmett traveled extensively all over the world and were often affiliated with Earth Watch or other service organizations.
Ruth is survived by her six children, David Gordon (Margaret) of Watch Hill, RI; Richard Gordon of Australia; Robert Gordon of Unionville, PA; Gillian Gordon-Moore (Carlos) of Berryville, VA; Matthew Gordon of Long Island, NY; and Andrew Gordon of Great Camanoe, BVI; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Private services will be held in early 2017 in the British Virgin Islands.