Ruth Ann Dayton 1931-2002

DAYTON, CREAMER, SCHMITZ, SEATON, KINSETH, BILLMEYER, SCHMIDT, HOFFMAN, JARBOE, GALLAGHER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/25/2008 at 18:35:05

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register

RUTH ANN DAYTON

Ruth Ann Dayton, 71, of Grinnell died of Lou Gehrig's disease Sunday, Sept. 8, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday morning at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with the Rev. William Reynolds officiating. Organist was Marilyn Kriegel, and pallbearers were Joel, John, Jason and Eric Dayton; Paul Chalupsky; and Jacob Billmeyer. Burial was at Hazelwood Cemetery, with the Smith Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

The daughter of Francis J. and Mary Ellen Creamer Schmitz, she was born Jan. 13, 1931, in Grinnell. She attended rural school and was a 1948 graduate of Grinnell High School.

She was married to Wayne Dayton May 5, 1951, in Grinnell. The couple lived on a farm on the west edge of Grinnell.

Mrs. Dayton had been employed for several years by Iowa Telephone and Telegraph and, later, with Pagliai's Pizza. She retired in 2001.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society, Marian Study Club, MAC Chorus, St. Mary's Choir and Chatterton Street Coffee Club. She was a former member of the Chester Chaps and Stars 4-H Club and Chester Royal Grange. She was also a former CCD teacher and director of St. Mary's Choir.

Surviving are her husband; 10 children, John of Grinnell, Mary Jo Seaton of Brooklyn, Mark of West Des Moines, Jim of Urbandale, Tom of Grinnell, Diane Kinseth of Independence, Louise Billmeyer of Ankeny, Carol Schmidt of Ankeny, Ellen Hoffman of Johnston and Teresa Dayton of Norwalk, and 24 grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John Jarboe and Raymond Schmitz; and four sisters, Rosemary Gallagher and Wilma, Mildred and Margaret Schmitz.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society, Grinnell Regional Hospice or her church.