We are sad to report the passing of the following members of our Clan Galbraith family:
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Ruby Jeannine Galbraith Riley (1942-2024) -
CGS member 844
With heavy hearts, we share the news of the passing of Ruby Galbraith Riley on
December 22, 2024, in Katy, Texas, at the age of 82. Born on March 25, 1942 in Houston.
Ruby grew up in Galena Park and moved to Katy in 2011 to be closer to her family.
A proud 5th generation Houstonian, Ruby had a deep love for Texas. She took great pride
in having been cited by the Handbook of Texas primarily because she had firsthand knowledge
of the history of Galena Park and the east Houston area. She dedicated years to tracing her
ancestry and found direct connection to famous people including Daniel Boone and Samuel Morse
as well as the Scarborough shipping family who owned the Mayflower. She was also a member
of Clan Galbraith (DNA Group 1), and as such traveled to Scotland with the Mancill family
to attend the Clan Gathering at Culcreuch Castle, Stirling, Scotland which had been the
clan seat from 1320 to 1624.
As a devoted Christian, Ruby was an active member of both First Baptist Church of Galena Park
and First Baptist Church of Katy where she taught Sunday school to children and adults for
many years. She was instrumental in beginning the ESL Literacy program at FBC Galena Park in
the early 1970’s.
A highly educated woman, Ruby held a Master of Education degree from the University of Houston
Clear Lake serving as a public-school teacher for the Pasadena Independent School District for
over 30 years. She often found herself teaching the children of her former students. After
her retirement, she filled her days with reading, sudoku, genealogical research, and daily
coffee and Jeopardy with her daughter Rachel and often her granddaughter Hannah. She found
continuous fascination watching hummingbirds, bees, dragonflies, squirrels and other wildlife
visiting the flowerbeds planted largely to attract them.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carrol Gene “Bud” Riley; her mother, Lucille Graff Galbraith;
her father, Robert Wellington “Shorty” Galbraith and her sister, Jane Galbraith Prater.
She is survived by her children, Rachel and Michieal Mancill, Suzan Riley, Laura Harrison Malone,
and Kevin Riley, along with her treasured grandchildren: Stephen, Hannah, Sam, Lindsey, Lily, and
Samantha, as well as great-grandchildren Ellis, Clark, and Michael James. Ruby also leaves behind
her nieces Penny Prater and Robin Prater Kret.
Ruby will be greatly missed and forever cherished in our hearts. A memorial service will be held
on January 13th at Katy’s First Baptist Bolin Chapel, 600 Pin Oak, Katy, TX 77494 to celebrate
her remarkable life. In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests donations be made to
Samaritan’s Purse at samaritanspurse.org in honor of Ruby J. Riley.
Obituary published by Schmidt Funeral Home
(serving Katy and West Houston, Texas).
link to obit
(Jan 2025)
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Euphemia Galbraith Ponkratjew (1925-2023) -
CGS member 004
From: Lorna Adamczyk
Date: Sun, Jun 25, 2023
Subject: Effie Ponkratjew
To: president@clangalbraith.org
My mother Euphemia Ponkratjew died June 18th, she was 98. She was member #4,
That tells you how long she was a member. At some time I will be taking her ashes
to be buried in her hometown of Selkirk, Scotland.
Lorna Adamczyk
Clan Galbraith member
No known obituary
(Jun 2023)
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Clay C. Katchmar (1923-2024) -
CGS member 289
Clay C. Katchmar was born on July 8, 1923, in Merced, CA to the late Clifford Jay Cassell and
Margaret Clay Rice Cassell. She was a long-time resident of Churchville, MD. Clay passed away
on June 19, 2024, at the age of 100.
Beloved wife of the late Dr. Leon T. Katchmar, loving mother of Dr. Elizabeth K Bowman (Lawrence),
Martha K. Lee (Dennis), Peter J. Katchmar (Joannie), Michael Colby Katchmar (Beth), and
Eric P. Katchmar. Dearest grandmother of 11 grandchildren and great grandmother of one. Clay is preceded in death by her four siblings, Eleanor Jean, Clifford Joseph Cassell, Helen June Mitchell and Virginia Ruth Rogers. Clay will be deeply missed by nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Clay taught kindergarten in a Montgomery County school, until she retired when expecting her
first child. She raised her 5 children for 16 years before returning to work in 1973 to
supervise a day care center in Essex for the Baltimore County Department of Social Services.
She served in that capacity until 1982. For the next year she inspected day care homes for
Baltimore County DSS. She retired in 1983.
An alumna of the University of California, Berkeley Campus, she earned a master’s degree in
human Growth and Development at the University of Maryland, College Park Campus. This is
where she met her husband of fifty years. Clay enjoyed teaching day care in Berkeley and
San Francisco as well as in a Nursery school at the Presidio of San Francisco. She was a
flight attendant for United Air Lines. She directed a Cooperative Nursery School and was
a teacher of Parent Education in Merced, CA from 1950 till 1952. She was a lifetime member
of the National Associations of Individual Investors, American Association of Individual Investors,
and the Clan Galbraith of North America. She was a former president of the
Saint Margaret's Mothers Club, and she was instrumental in changing it to a Home School Association.
Clay was also a president of the Harford County Branch of the
American Association of University Women. For two years she chaired the
Saint Ignatius Christmas Bazaar.
Clay was blessed to achieve her goal of living to be 100 years young and was very honored
to receive the Pope’s blessing in a commemorative document on that occasion.
A viewing and mass of Christian burial will be held at the historic St. Ignatius Church
in Hickory with the Rev. Fater Peter Kiamo-oh officiating. The viewing will be at 10:00 am
followed by mass at 11:00 with interment in the adjoining church cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dennis Lee, Sean Katchmar, Jonathan Katchmar, Tom Randall,
Lawrence Bowman and Kyle Bowman.
Contributions may be made to St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 533 E. Jarrettsville Road,
Forest Hill, MD 21050.
Obituary published by McComas Funeral Home
(Abingdon, Bel Air, Jarrettsville, MD, and surrounding areas).
link to obit
(Jun 2024)
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Jean Ann Troop (1927-2024) -
CGS member 254
Jean Ann Wyker Troop, age 97, of Westerwood, Columbus, OH passed away August 7, 2024.
Mrs. Troop was born April 20, 1927 in Columbus, Ohio to the late Clyde Ely Wyker and
Ruth Galbreath Wyker. She was a graduate of Hilliard High School and Otterbein University
where she was a member of Sigma Alpha Tau Sorority and Phi Alpha Theata, National
History Honorary. She was a long time member of Daughters of the American Revolution,
Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, Daughters of 1812, Magna Charta Dames,
The Huguent Society, Crown of Charlemagne, Daughters of American Colonists and long
time library volunteer.
Survived by son Kyle (Susanne) Troop of Racine, Wisconsin; grandchildren,
Christpher (Grace) and Sarah Jean. Preceded in death by her parents, son, Eric in 2022
and brother, Clyde Galbreath Wyker in 2024.
No visitation, private graveside service at East Carmel Cemetery in Rogers, Ohio.
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Moreland Funeral Home, Westerville, OH on Aug. 23, 2024.
link to obit
(Aug 2024)
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Robert Winston Galbraith (1924-2024) -
CGS member 58
Robert W. Galbraith, age 99, 11 months and 10 days, of Newland, North Carolina passed away on
Saturday, August 10, 2024 at the Amorem Hospice House in Burke County.
He was born on August 27, 1924 in Washington DC, a son of the late WW and Lucille Galbraith.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Doreen Galbraith;
second wife, Frances; Son, Douglas W. Galbraith; and Brother, John Galbraith.
Bob retired from United Airlines after 35 years. He loved the mountains and liked to be
known as "Montezuma Bob." Very active in the Avery County community, he was a member of
the Rotary, served as Treasurer of the Cranberry Masonic Lodge and was a Shriner, loved
to golf and was a long time member of Mountain Glen Golf Club. He was member of the
Army Air Corp and served in WWII. Bob was also a member of First Baptist Church Newland.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, Daughter in Law; Tish Galbraith of South Carolina;
Granddaughter, Shannon Leonard of Virginia; Grandson, Tait Galbraith of Ohio;
Great Grandchildren, Bella and Rory; two nieces and two nephews; and members of the Ledford,
Pritchard and Sudderth families.
Bob was interred with his wife, Frances in the Montezuma Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Amorem Hospice and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be
made to the Shriners Children's Hospital.
Obituary published by Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, Newland, NC
link to obit
(Aug 2024)
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Sharon Ellen Fore Galbraith (1944-2024) -
Mother of CGS member 1656, James M Galbraith
Sharon Ellen Fore Galbraith, 80, of Salem, Virginia, passed away and made her final journey
to eternity on Sunday morning August 11, 2024, at Friendship Salem Terrace in
Salem, Virginia.
Before her departure to join her beloved husband, Jim who has been waiting (patiently we hope)
4 years for her to make the trip to heaven to finally reunite with him, was surrounded by
family members and loving caretakers.
Sharon began her life on April 23, 1944, as the daughter to George and Mae (Chocklett) Fore,
growing up first in Roanoke, Virginia before her family moved to the Fort Lewis area of
western Roanoke County. Sharon shared her youth with her older brother Steve “Dickie.”
Sharon graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, class of 1962, and it was there
she first met the one man that would forever change her life, her high school sweetheart
Jim Galbraith whom she would marry in June 1963.
Jim and Sharon became permanent residents of Salem’s Beverly Heights neighborhood in 1966
and remained in Salem for their entire lives. The rest as they would say is history and the
stories of Sharon’s life would be more than enough to complete a novel, but we will keep this
obituary to a “Cliff Notes” version for simplicity.
Sharon retired from Walmart in Salem back in 2009, after many years of service. Sharon also
worked alongside her husband, Jim as Secretary/Treasurer of Galbraith Electric Motor Service, Inc.
of Salem, Virginia from 1971-1986.
Sharon is predeceased by the love of her life and Husband of over 57 years,
James Bartrom (Jim) Galbraith, and her parents, George and Mae Fore.
Sharon is survived by her:
- Son, James M. (Jimmy) Galbraith and daughter-in-law, Kristin Ferguson Galbraith of
North Chesterfield, Virginia
- Daughter, Crystal L. Bollinger (Galbraith) and son-in-law, John C. Bollinger of
Cordova, Tennessee
- 3 Granddaughters, Kate Bollinger of West Memphis, Arkansas, Anna Bollinger and
Sarah Bollinger of Memphis, Tennessee
- Brother, Stephen G. Fore of Salem, Virginia
- Sister-in-Law, Judy Simmons (Galbraith) and husband, Stan Simmons with nephew
Charly Joe and his son CJ. of Madison, North Carolina.
- Nephew, Dennis “Joe” Galbraith, and his son, William of Blue Ridge, Virginia with
sister-in-law, Janet Galbraith, and niece, Deborah Galbraith of Roanoke, Virginia.
- “Other” daughter, Stephanie Kent Sigman, and husband, Patrick Sigman of Bountiful, Utah
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of Memphis, Tennessee, in memory of
Jim and Sharon Galbraith.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at
Friendship Salem Terrace, Blue Ridge Cancer Center, and Good Samaritan Hospice
for the loving care given to Sharon over the last 2 years.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 15, 2024, at
Cedar Lawn Memorial Park, 5070 Cove Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia with Pastor Jeff Reynolds
officiating.
A Celebration of Life event will be held in Sharon’s honor at a late date to be determined
by the family in September.
Obituary published by John M Oakey & Son Funeral Home, Salem, VA.
link to obit
(Aug 2024)
