Ruth Roney Willey Ash, retired court manager
Ruth Joanne Roney Reinhart Willey Ash, 80, of Lewes, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2015, at her residence. She was born March 29, 1935, in Wilmington, daughter of the late Curtis J. Roney and Ruth Pierce Roney;
In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her husbands, Richard W. Reinhart, Preston T. Willey and Harry B. Ash, and her grandparents, Steven G. Pierce and Joanna Walls Pierce.
She and her family moved to the Lewes area in 1949 where she later graduated from Lewes High School in 1952. She continued on in her education for a year at the University of Delaware and Goldey Beacom Business School.
She later went on to work at Fort Miles (now Cape Henlopen State Park) from 1954-57; D.F.D Builders in Rehoboth from 1963-6,6 and retired from the State of Delaware in 1997 after serving for over 31 years as a court manager in the Justice of the Peace Court system.
She was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church since 1956, and had served in the past on the vestry, altar guild, choir; church newsletter and other committees.
She enjoyed being with family, grandchildren and friends, and looked forward to meeting with her high school classmates each month. In her earlier years she enjoyed spending time with her father in Rehoboth Beach where he was a lifeguard for many years, as well as accompanying him to many gigs, as he was a local musician. As a young girl in Wilmington she studied tap dancing and ballet under Mildred Bryan. She has many accomplishments in her lifetime, one including a trophy earned for her swim to the Breakwater.
She is survived by children Richard W. Reinhart II and wife Kim, Shelly Reinhart Thoroughgood and husband William, Brenda Willey Hazzard and husband Troy; grandchildren: Curtis Reinhart, Melanie Reinhart, Sydney Reinhart, Patrick Thoroughgood, Andrew Thoroughgood, Ethan Hazzard, and Hannah Hazzard; and great-grandson Curtis William Reinhart Jr.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday April 28, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Second Street, Lewes. Interment will be private at St. Peter’s Cemetery Pilottown Road.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her honor to either St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 211 Mulberry St. Lewes, or VITAS (hospice) 1016 N. Walnut St., Walnut Professional Center, Milford, DE 19966.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Peri of Tunnell Cancer Center for his excellent care of our mother over the years, as well as the VITAS organization for their special care of our mom.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
