Canadian Aviatrix #58 – Lillian Riffer (1915-1991)
Lillian Nora Riffer was born on 5 November 1915 in St Catharines, Ontario, to John Edwin Riffer (founder of the St Catharines Brass Works) and Angeline Schultz.
|
|
1911 census |
1921 census |
|
|
St Catharines ON |
St Catharines ON |
|
John |
31 |
41 |
|
Angeline |
23 |
33 |
|
Esther |
11m |
10 |
|
Lillian |
- |
6 |
I haven’t found the family in 1931 yet. Angeline died in 1936
Both Lillian and her father took flying lessons at the St Catharines Flying Club and were secretary and director respectively.
On 14 July 1938, Lillian passed her flying test and received her PPL, making her the 58th female pilot in Canada. She was 22 years old.
Photo: St Catherines Standard (June 2, 1938)
In 1939, Lillian married Edward Potter Bowen (an electrician who worked in chemical engineering). The couple moved to Edward’s hometown of Niagara Falls, New York, and had two girls.
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1940 census |
1950 census |
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|
Niagara Falls NY |
Porter NY |
|
Edward |
24 |
34 |
|
Lillian |
25 |
34 |
|
Jane |
3m |
10 |
|
Sylvia |
- |
3 |
|
Mildred |
46 (Edward’s mother) |
- |
In 1940, Lillian’s father died suddenly and Esther took on his position of President of the St Catharines Brass Works. Both women created the J.E. Riffer Memorial Trophy for all round casting proficiency at the County Game and Frish Association.
Lillian died in 1991, aged 76.
Note: Lillian was listed with an asterisk in No Place for a Lady – meaning the author hadn’t been able to find her. I just had “L.N. Riffer” and the date of her PPL.
