Ruth Elaine Ashton

Ruth Ashton, age 73 of Woodward, IA passed away on Jan 1, 2022, at the Perry Lutheran Home following a courageous battle with ALS. Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Carris Family Funeral Home & Cremation Care in Perry. Interment of her ashes will be in the Beaver View Cemetery at Crofton, NE at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to ALS of Iowa, Perry Lutheran Homes and Suncrest Hospice of Des Moines and may be left at the Carris Family Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Ruth Elaine Merchen was born on Nov 9, 1948, in Osmond, NE. She was the sixth of ten children born to Guy and Leone (Douglas) Merchen. She grew up on her parents farm northwest of Crofton, NE. She attended West Blyville country school through 8th grade and later graduated from Crofton High School in 1967. And Westmar College in LeMars, IA in 1971 with a degree in Business. Ruth was united in marriage to Richard W Ashton of Beaman, IA at the United Methodist church of rural Crofton on June 26, 1971. The couple made their home in Woodward, IA. Rich taught and coached at Woodward-Granger schools. Ruth worked for the Iowa Department of Human Services, then 37 years at the Woodward Resource Center in the Business Office. During that time, she also mentored clients from the center, taking them to off campus activities. Beginning in 2000, she and Rich owned and operated Dick's Fire Extinguisher Sales and Services in Boone, IA until 2016. Ruth's greatest love was family and traveling to spend time with siblings, nieces, and nephews. She loved to crochet special items for family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, bowling, and golfing with friends. She loved to jitterbug at the Rock & Roll reunion at the Iowa State Fair and at Buddy Holly Reunion. She and Rich toured on motorcycle to every US State except Hawaii during their 50 years of marriage. The couple also enjoyed their home and friends in Tucson, AZ where they wintered since 2010. Survivors include her husband, Rich of Woodward. Seven siblings and spouses': Marilyn Birmingham of Bettendorf; Dora (Dan)Parnell of Universal City TX; Mary (John) Strayer of Kearney, NE; Jan Jensen of Pierce, NE; Judy (Roger) Cambier of Alton, IA; Larry (Tracey) Merchen of West Point, NE; Diane (Lance) Brozek of Omaha; brother-in-law Tom (Deb) Ashton of Beaman and sister-in-law Rosie Stanley of Wilton, IA. Eldest niece Dawn (Kelly) Kirts of Woodward as well as numerous other nieces, nephews, great nieces, and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Ed; sister Carol Jean; and brothers-in-law, Don Birmingham and Jerry Jensen. Visitation Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Carris Family Funeral Home & Cremation Care 1721 Park St Perry, Iowa 50220