Ruth Ashinhurst, affectionately known to her friends as Sweet Ruth, to her grandchildren as Granny, and to her great grandchildren as Big Granny, passed away peacefully in her home on August 20, 2026. She was born on August 15, 1934 in Livingston, Tennessee to Robert Lee and Essie Ruth Dillon, the fifth of eight children and their first of three daughters.
In 1949 Ruth met Keith Ashinhurst while she was helping to care for widowed Keith's young daughter, Lynn, at the home of a neighbor who happened to be Keith's mother. They fell in love and were married on June 7, 1950. Ruth and Keith had three more children together, Judy Ann, Robert Joel (Bob), and Lora Lee. They were married for fifty-three years until Keith passed away in December of 2003.
Ruth had always wanted a piano but they couldn't afford one. One day Keith came home with a guitar and that was the beginning of many years of music shared together as a family. Ruth, Judy and Lora sang together as the Ashinhurst Trio and Bob often played the guitar and sang with them. In fact, each of her children and many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren play multiple instruments and sing and write music. Ruth had a great sense of humor, so music and laughter were part of their everyday life.
When she was in her 40's she went to school to become a nurse and spent her career in long term healthcare for elders. She always treated her patients with respect and compassion seeing each person as a valuable human being.
In her later years she found her voice in writing prose, poetry and short stories, some of which were funny and others that were thought provoking and inspiring. Ruth loved the Lord and found pleasure in serving him by serving and praying for others. We will miss her but we are comforted in knowing that she is with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Ruth is survived by her youngest sister Judy (Homer) Reagan, her daughters Lynn Wozniak, Judy (Tim) Simon, Lora (Steve) Franke, and her son Bob (Linda) Ashinhurst, eleven grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a graveside service at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Good Hope Cemetery, 437 Jamestown Highway, Livingston, Tennessee. There will also be a Celebration of Life at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at The Church on the Mountain, 68211 E. Highway 26, Welches, Oregon.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Mt Hood Hospice, 9085 Pioneer Blvd Ste 1018, Sandy, OR 97055.