Obituary of Rhoda A Gribbel

RHODA A. GRIBBEL, 85, died December 28, 2015 in Camden, Maine. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 3, 1930, the daughter of Reverend Ernest O. Armbruster and Clara E. Armbruster nee Morgan, a school teacher. Rhoda attended Germantown High School and Penn State University. She enjoyed music and the theatre, she had a love of singing and had a beautiful voice. Rhoda cared deeply for wildlife, dogs, cats and the environment. Rhoda along with her husband Bill were founders of CARP Concerned Area Residents for Preservation of Tinicum Marsh, who led lobbying efforts to secure the Tinicum Environmental Center. They rescued thousands of oil-soaked ducks from the Delaware River and led efforts to get oil treatment facilities nearby. Rhoda and Bill worked with Scouts, civic groups and public officials to raise awareness. They conducted year-round canoe trips and hikes through the marsh, lobbied in Washington and wherever they were needed to help preserve the last tidal marsh in Pennsylvania. This area is now the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. In the mid-70s Rhoda and Bill moved to Rockport, where Rhoda continued expressing her love of animals by helping to found the Camden Rockport Animal Rescue League which is now known as P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center. Rhoda was predeceased by her parents, her husband William G. Gribbel, her brother Andre M. Armbruster and nephew Christopher Armbruster. She is survived by her niece Erika Hershey of Galloway, NJ and nephew Mark Armbruster of Clementon, NJ. She is also survived by her step-children Catharine Gribbel-Beautyman, James L Gribbel, Theodore G Gribbell and William W Gribbell. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to PAWS P.O. Box 707 Rockport, Maine 04856 Arrangements are under the care of Direct Cremation of Maine, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.directcremationofmaine.com.