Family Log-In

Click Here

Sullivan -- Ruth Donald Meynell Vibert, 100, died December 27, surrounded by her loving family, in Ellsworth. She was born January 24, 1917 in Moncton, New Brunswick to Hal and Jessie (Holder) Meynell.

Ruth grew up in Quebec and Montreal, often making summer visits to her father’s family in Sullivan. She studied dance at the Evans Sisters School of Dance in Montreal, eventually becoming a teacher there and at a local Authur Murray school. Ruth and her sister Betty sang and danced professionally together. They toured as the Meynell Sisters with Ruth singing alto to Betty’s soprano. They also operated the Meynell Dance Studio for a number of years before moving to Prince Edward Island in 1942. There they taught ballet and ballroom dancing while managing the V Club, a dinner club for service members. It was there that she met her future husband Denis Vibert, a young RAF pilot from the British Isle of Jersey. They married in June 1943 before he returned to combat duty in Britain. Shortly after, Ruth braved the dangerous Atlantic crossing in a convoy of ships and joined Denis’ family in England for the duration of the war. At the war’s end they returned to Canada and eventually moved to Sullivan in 1948, where they established the Pine Tree Kiln pottery shop. Denis created the beautiful well known Vibert pottery while Ruth ran the shop and gallery, selling pots as well as paintings, prints and crafts by a number of Maine based artists. She continued to teach ballet and tap dancing for a number of years to many local children, holding recitals in area halls and schools. Ruth played the piano, had a lifelong love of music, and continued to play the recorder with a group of close friends well into her nineties. She loved living and working in their large red farm house on Taunton Bay and sailing their wooden boat in Frenchman’s Bay. Ruth and Den spent many winters in New Smyrna Beach, Florida; also traveling to Mexico, Portugal, and making return trips to Jersey to visit Den’s family.

Ruth is survived by her three nephews, niece and spouses; Ken Hills (Gaye), Hollis Hills (Ellie), Suzanne Mace (Chris), and Donald Hills (Lilly); Denis’ seven nieces in Britain; and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her husband Denis; two infant sons Thomas and Stephen; sister Betty Hills and brother in law Ken. She will be greatly missed by her extended family and a number of close friends including, Judy and Wayne Mabus, who were a great comfort to her after Den’s death. The family wishes to thank Marlene Walker and the staff at Total Care Solutions, Ellsworth for the wonderful care she received while residing there for the last year and a half.

There will be a graveside service at York Hill Cemetery, Sullivan in the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to The Ark, P.O. Box 276, Cherryfield, 04622.

Arrangements in care of Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com