Wilma LaRue Valentine, 89
Wilma LaRue Valentine (Stanley), 89, passed away in Ashland, Sunday evening, February 25, 2024, at UH Samaritan Hospital, surrounded by her children.
She was born on June 24,1934 to the late Donald Stanley and Wilma (nee Rhoads) Stanley in Alliance, Ohio.
LaRue married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” L. Valentine on February 27, 1954.
She was a homemaker to her children for many years, raising them in the Catholic faith alongside her husband. When she entered the workforce, she became a clerk at SupeRx drug store and later took the position of Clinic Aid at Ashland High school, where she worked for a number of years. She was a devoted member of the St. Edward Catholic Church, where she was a Eucharistic Minister and loved to sing in the church choir.
LaRue belonged to many organizations throughout her life, including but not limited to, The Catholic Daughters of The Americas, St. Edward Guild, The Republican Women’s Club, Women’s Choir at Ashland University, The Garden Club, Welcome Wagon, the Hunger Center, Ashland County Historical Society and was also the Precinct Clerk of Elections here in Ashland.
She is survived by two daughters, Valerie (John) Uecker of Jeromesville and Cindy (Jim) Burson of Ashland; one son, Michael (Sandy) Valentine of Ashland; a daughter-in-law, Debra Valentine of Ashland; ten grandchildren, Joshua (Brooke) Bachus, Christopher (Jamie) Bachus, Duane (Jessica) Young, Bridgete Valentine, Michael Valentine, Shawna (Greg) Balog, Gabriel (Alyssa) Edwards, Nathan Valentine, Ben (Kelly) Valentine, and Adam Valentine; 19 great grandchildren, Cooper, Tori, Jake, and Evan Bachus, Lewis and Linnley Balog, Bentley and Callie Young, Grayson and Hunter Geary, and Aurora Valentine, Natalie, Emelia, and Jocelyn Edwards, Landon, Ella, Hallie and Chase Valentine; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Valentine of New Hampshire.
Along with her parents, LaRue is preceded in death by her husband, Bob Valentine to whom she would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary; a son, Robert “Bobby” M. Valentine who passed away in October of last year, and both of her siblings, Barb Ossler, and Donald D. Stanley.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Friday, March 1, 2024, at 11:00am in the St. Edward Roman Catholic Church with Father Rod Kreidler presiding. Friends may visit at the church from 10:00am to 11:00am. An inurnment will follow services at Ashland Cemetery.
A meal and time of fellowship will be held after the inurnment at the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home in the Legacy Room.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Edward Catholic Church. For those unable to attend, condolences may be made on the funeral home’s webpage at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the arrangements.
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com