Lila Belle (Inglis) Rancipher (1923 - 2006)

Born 4 Mar 1923 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Ancestors

Wife of Edward Gordon Rancipher — married 21 Jan 1949 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, United States

Died 18 Apr 2006 at age 83 in Gig Harbor, Pierce, Washington, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Nancy Freeman [send private message]

Biography

Lila was born in 1923 in Vancouver, British Columbia. When she was 3 years old she and her younger sister Sylvia were adopted by Albert Emery Towers (1869-1957) and Lucy Emma (Craig) Towers (1877-1962), then living in Tacoma, Washington.

In order to save on school-related expenses, Lila didn't start elementary school until Sylvia did, a delay of a year. They both graduated from Stadium High School in 1942. Lila attended business college and in December 1942 was hired by Pacific Fruit and Produce, located on the Tacoma waterfront doing general office work. Everyone working on the waterfront during World War II had to demonstrate proof of citizenship, and since Lila and Sylvia were not US citizens they had to return to Canada so they could immigrate legally. As part of the paperwork, they had to be re-adopted by their parents.

On January 21, 1949 Lila married Edward Gordon Rancipher, whom she had met at work. He worked until retirement as a short-haul trucker. She ran a childrens' day care out of their home during the years when their own children were growing up. They had two children:

• David Gordon Rancipher (b. Apr 7, 1950)
• Kathleen "Kathy" Louise Rancipher Pick (b. July 20, 1953)

In 1978 Lila and Ed retired to a mobile home in Purdy, Washington. In 1983 they moved to Pleasant Forest Camping Club, an RV/mobile home park in Olympia, Washington, where Ed served as assistant Ranger for a number of years. Lila was an active member of Grace Baptist Church, and crocheted blankets for Project Linus.

Ed passed away in 1998. Lila passed away in 2006.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC31-NCQ : accessed 23 July 2022), Lila Bell Towers in household of A Emory Towers, Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 196, sheet 5A, line 47, family 113, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2512; FHL microfilm 2,342,246.
• "We Remember When..." unpublished memoirs of Sylvia Louise Freeman and Lila Belle Rancipher, incorporating the diary of Lucy Craig Towers, 1994
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86479571/lila-belle-rancipher: accessed 25 July 2022), memorial page for Lila Belle Towers Rancipher (1923-2006), Find a Grave Memorial ID 86149571, citing Haven of Rest Cemetery, Gig Harbor, Pierce County, Washington, USA; Maintained by Kathy Stroope Veasey (contributor 47009271).
• Obituary for Lila B Rancipher, newspaper clipping, personal copy in the files of Nancy Freeman