BIOGRAPHY

Rayward was born as Florence Alma Hopper in Hull, Yorkshire, England on 3 October 1903. Between 1919 and 1932, she was employed as a telephonist at the Hull Corporation Telephones Department (now Kingston Communications).

Rayward married her husband, Robert, and later had a son, Robert Jr.

In her later years, Rayward lived in a care home in Hull. She was nicknamed “Hoppie” throughout her life. She died on 15 January 2015 at the age of 111 years, 104 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the 14 November 2013 death of Grace Jones, Rayward entered the top 10 oldest living people in the United Kingdom. On 4 August 2014, she became one of the top five oldest U. K. residents after the death of 110-year-old Hilda Jackson.

Rayward’s age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes and Chris Law, and was validated by the GRG and the ESO on 24 November 2014 and 20 January 2020 respectively.

Rayward died on the same day as fellow Yorkshirewoman Ethel Lang, 114, and as their precise times of death are not known, it is unclear whether Rayward was the second or third-oldest living resident of the United Kingdom.

ATTRIBUTION

• Hull Daily Mail

• Obituary Notice of Florence RAYWARD Funeral Notices

GALLERY