CARBONDALE, Kan. – Ruth Ann (Nichols) Towne, 87, of Carbondale, Kan., departed this life on Friday, July 9, 2021, at Midland Hospice, Topeka, Kan. She was born July 23, 1933, on the family homestead at 636 SE 117th St., Carbondale, the daughter of Louis George and Cora Linia (Peterson) Nichols.
She attended Elliott Grade School, and graduated from Carbondale High School in 1951.
On Dec. 21, 1951, Ruth was united in marriage to Harry Robert Towne Jr., in Carbondale. From this union they had a daughter Nancy. They later divorced.
Ruth was a member of the VFW Post 1660 and Kooties, in Topeka. She was the president of the Carbondale Senior Citizens Fellowship Group for many years. Ruth was on the Carbondale City Council for five years and was mayor of Carbondale for eight years. She was active on the Carbondale Library Board and a member of the Carbondale Friends of The Library. She worked with the Heartland Share Program for more than 23 years. Ruth was an active member of The Grace Chapel Church, Carbondale, for more than 60 years.
Ruth worked at Forbes Field Air Force Base, Topeka, and was a purchasing agent at Security Benefit, Topeka, for more than 34 years, retiring in 1991. She then worked at Kohl’s, Topeka, for eight years. She was also a foster parent for more than 27 years.
She enjoyed embroidering, word search puzzles, and sightseeing for old barns and covered bridges. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family, especially watching her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s sports and events.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Cora; brother, John Nichols; and an infant sister, Lucille.
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Jim) Warren, Carbondale; sister-in-law, Carolyn Nichols, Carbondale; foster daughter, Cathy (Gordon) Crook, Towanda, Kan.; five grandchildren, Karen (Anthony) Barber, Topeka, Jonathan (Mattea) Crook, Eldorado, Kan., Seth (Angela) Crook, Wichita, Kan., Christopher (Courtney) Warren, Carbondale, and Nathaniel Warren (Iesha Billbe), Carbondale; seven great grandchildren, Josiah, Emma Grace, KayLynn, Karli, Hayes, DayLyn and Damian.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 17, at Grace Chapel, Carbondale. Burial will follow to the Yocum Cemetery, near the Wakarusa River. Visitation will be 10 a.m until service time at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Ruth Town Memorial Fund for her great-grandchildren’s college education, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451. Condolences can be left at feltnerfuneralhome.com.
