Harrington-Carlton, Rose Mary

Rose Mary Harrington-Carlton, 86, of Story City, formerly of Ryan, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ryan, conducted by the Rev. Dennis Cain. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, at Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Manchester, with a 2 p.m. parish Scripture service. Additional visitation is one hour before the Mass at the church. Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Ryan.

Rose Mary was born March 27, 1926, the daughter of Herbert and Frances (Kremer) Benn, and graduated from Xavier High School in Dyersville. She was united in marriage to Justin Harrington on Aug. 21, 1947, at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier. They farmed in Hazel Green Township in Delaware County and raised five children. Rose Mary served on the local election board many times and helped with the local girls' 4 H club before starting to work at Ertl Toy Factory. She enjoyed her work at Ertls for over 20 years and retired early to help her daughter, Judy, during the last few years of Judy's life.

Rose Mary then became active in the Ryan Jolly Senior Citizens and was treasurer for its congregate meal program. She later married Earl Carlton on May 27, 1998, and moved from the farm to Ryan. They enjoyed dining in restaurants and rides in the country. A few years after Earl's death in January 2004, she moved the Ellen Kennedy Assisted Living in Dyersville and thrived. In December 2010, she moved to Story City to be closer to family. She continued to be an avid reader. She enjoyed playing cards and gardening, especially flowers.

Survivors include her daughters, Janet (Paul) Rath of California and Mary (Rick) Ruppel of Story City; son, John Harrington of Colorado; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; brothers, Thomas Benn, Herbert (Violet) Benn, Louis (Ruth) Benn, James (Margie) Benn and George (Linda) Benn; sisters, Ruth (Robert) Nurre and Frances (Walter) Davidshofer; and sisters in-law, Gwen (Jim) Schmitt and Carol (Mike) Lundergan.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; a daughter, Judith Bickal; a son, Patrick Harrington; brothers, Charles Benn, Vernon Benn, Daniel Benn and Loras Benn; and sister in-law, Jean Benn.

Memorial's will be directed to several charities in Rose Mary's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Rose Mary at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.

Published Feb. 23, 2013 in The Gazette

Due to production error, obituary republished Feb. 24, 2013 in The Gazette