Ruth Ann (Nichols) Towne, 87, of Carbondale, Kansas, departed this life on Friday, July 9, 2021 at Midland Hospice in Topeka, Kansas. She was born July 23, 1933, on the family homestead at 636 S.E. 117 th Street in Carbondale, Kansas the daughter of Louis George and Cora Linia (Peterson) Nichols. She attended Elliott Grade School and graduated from Carbondale High School in 1951.

On December 21, 1951, Ruth was united in marriage to Harry Robert Towne Jr. in Carbondale, Kansas. From this union they had a daughter Nancy. They later divorced.

Ruth worked at Forbes Field Air Force Base in Topeka and a purchasing agent at Security Benefit in Topeka for over thirty-fours years, retiring in 1991. She then worked at Kohl's in Topeka for 8 years. She was also a foster parent for over twenty-seven years.

She enjoyed embroidering, word search puzzles, sight seeing 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.

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 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 over twenty-three years. Ruth was an active member of The Grace Chapel Church in Carbondale, Kansas for over sixty years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Cora; her brother, John Nichols; and an infant sister, Lucille.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Nancy (Jim) Warren of Carbondale, Kansas; her sister-in-law, Carolyn Nichols of Carbondale, Kansas; her foster daughter, Cathy (Gordon) Crook of Towanda, Kansas; five grandchildren; Karen (Anthony) Barber of Topeka, Kansas, Jonathan (Mattea) Crook of Eldorado, Kansas; Seth (Angela) Crook of Wichita, Kansas, Christopher (Courtney) Warren of Carbondale, Kansas and Nathaniel Warren (Iesha Billbe) of Carbondale, Kansas; seven great grandchildren, Josiah, Emma Grace, KayLynn, Karli, Hayes, DayLyn and Damian.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00a.m. on Saturday, July 17 at Grace Chapel in Carbondale, Kansas. Burial will follow to the Yocum Cemetery near the Wakarusa River. A visitation will be from 10:00a.m. until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ruth Towne Memorial Fund (for her great-grandchildren's college education's) sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Avenue, Lyndon, Kansas 66451.