Norma (Ribey) Dunlop

Peacefully, with family by her side at Saugeen Memorial Hospital on Monday, October 7, 2019 in her 97th year. Loved wife of the late John. Norma, beloved Mom of 7 children: Ken and his wife Janet, Carol and her late husband Don McDermid, Karen and her husband Gerry Moss, Rob and his wife Carla, Brian and his partner Anna, Barry and his wife Susan, and Tricia and her husband Tim Bernard. Proud Grandma of Andy, Alison, Maggie, Jamie; Amy, Mark, Peter; Brian, Barry; Mallory; Carl, Patricia, Stuart; Stacey, Brittany, Jayce, Mitch, Alanna; and 21 great grandchildren. Dear sister of Betty Jane George, George Ribey, Rodney Ribey and his wife Karen. Dear sister in law of Ruth Ribey, and Christena Gibson. Predeceased by her brother Gordon, and sister Alma Virtue.

Norma was born on a farm on the 8th of Bruce Township, the eldest child of Elmer and Pearl (Maas) Ribey.  As the eldest child she had many responsibilities on the farm and was not allowed to attend high school in town as she was needed to help at home.  As a young lady she moved to town to live with and help her Gramma Ribey run her boarding house on Goderich Street and to work in the general store.  During WWII she moved to York where she worked in a munitions factory making bullets for the war cause.  Norma moved back to the farm, met, dated and married her husband John Arthur Dunlop on September 13, 1947 in the Wesley United Church.  Their first home was on 8th Street East in Owen Sound while John worked for White Rose, BA Oil and the Department of Highways. In 1949 they had the opportunity to set up a bulk oil business for BA Oil in Port Elgin. Norma raised 6 children in a little 3 bedroom house and moved to a big new house where there was room for one more. Norma was active in the curling club, figure skating club, minor hockey, minor baseball, Port Elgin Dunlops and the Eastern Star.  When her children were older and more independent, she worked full time in the office at Dunlop Bros./Dunlop Fuels. She seldom missed a day’s work and even at 96 she drove herself to work each day. Norma’s pride and joy were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Sunday supper at Gramma’s was a tradition. Those not otherwise engaged met each Sunday at Norma’s to share a meal and play together.  There might have been as few as 6 or as many as 40, but here cousins became close friends and the great grandkids met their extended family. 

Friends will be received on Thursday, October 10, 2019 from 4-8pm at the Port Elgin United Church, 840 Bruce Street. A funeral service will be held at the church on Friday, October 11, 2019 at 2:00pm.  Interment Sanctuary Park Cemetery. 

Memorial donations to the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation or the Port Elgin United Church would be appreciated by the family.

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