Sheila Ann Ridgway (née Thornborrow)

January 3, 1946 – July 11, 2025

Sheila Ann Ridgway, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully of natural causes on July 11, 2025, in San Clemente, California. She was 79 years old.

Born on January 3, 1946, in Orange, California, Sheila was a quintessential Californian. She was raised on a farm in Irvine and spent her summers soaking in the sunshine at Laguna Beach. As a teenager, she met the love of her life, Chris Ridgway, while they were both working at Disneyland—a storybook beginning to their life together. They married and shared many joyful decades before Chris’s passing in 2000.

Sheila devoted herself wholeheartedly to raising her children, Damon Ridgway and Christy Wilson. When Christy began kindergarten, Sheila started working in education, carefully choosing roles that allowed her to stay close to her children’s schedules. She found purpose and joy as a high school librarian in Lake Elsinore before relocating to San Clemente. There she loved her work as the librarian and then welcoming front office clerk at Concordia Elementary in San Clemente. Her calm presence and warm smile left a lasting impression on students, parents, and colleagues alike.

A lifelong lover of books, music, and art, Sheila was a passionate mixed media artist whose creativity spilled into every corner of her life. She traveled extensively across the U.S. and Europe, always eager to learn, explore, and connect.

Above all, Sheila will be remembered for her boundless compassion and deep empathy. She had a rare gift for seeing into the heart of others and embracing them with kindness and understanding. Her presence was a source of comfort and strength to all who knew her.

Sheila is survived by her children, Damon and Christy, two cherished grandchildren, her brother Bob Thornborrow, and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Chris, her parents Ruth and Robert Thornborrow, her brother Jack Thornborrow, and many dear friends who no doubt welcomed her with open arms.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 9, 2025, at her home in San Clemente, where family and friends will gather to celebrate Sheila’s remarkable life and the love she gave so freely.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to The Little Free Library, in honor of Sheila’s lifelong dedication to literacy, compassion, and community.

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