Colony, Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann Colony, 83, of Central City, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Services: 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, at Zion American Lutheran Church, Wyoming, Iowa, with a visitation one hour before the service at the church. Family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Central City. Burial: Wyoming Cemetery, Wyoming, Iowa.

Survivors include two children, Martha (Bruce) of Ames, and Mark of Central City; a brother, Roy Holzinger; three grandchildren, Amy (Jeffrey), Raymond and Vanessa; in-laws, Mary (Bob) Williams and Melva (Ed) Eddleman; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a granddaughter, Ruth Ellen.

Ruth Ann was born March 14, 1927, on a farm in Jones County, near Oxford Junction, the daughter of Louie and Viola (Huggans) Holzinger. Ruth Ann was baptized March 1928, by the Rev. E.L. Arhelger and confirmed June 8, 1941, by the Rev. G. J. Zeilenger. She attended rural school through fourth grade, Oxford Junction School from grades four to seven and graduated from Olin School in 1945. She then attended Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI) in 1945 and 1946 and various summers. She received her BA from Coe College. On June 19, 1955, Ruth Ann was united in marriage to John M. Colony at North Liberty. They lived in North Liberty until 1959, when they moved to Wyoming, Iowa, to farm. The couple divorced. Ruth Ann moved to Central City.

Ruth Ann taught mostly fourth grade, but had experience in kindergarten through eighth grades. She taught in Olin from 1946 to 1956, Clarence from 1950 to 1951, Anamosa from 1951 to 1955, Johnson County rural schools for three years, Lost Nation from 1961 to 1970, Center Junction from 1970 to 1971, Monmouth, Wyoming from 1961 to 1990, and gifted and talented from 1990 to 1996.

Ruth Ann was a member of Zion American Lutheran Church in Wyoming, where she taught Sunday school, was a member of Luther League and the Mary Rebecca Circle. While a member of the United Church of Christ in Central City, she taught adult Sunday school and was a member of Agoma Circle and Women's Fellowship. She was a lifetime member of ISEA and NEA, and belonged to the Progressive Club, TOPS of Wyoming and Marion and was a board member of the Historical Museum. She enjoyed sewing jean quilts, playing cards, cooking and baking, writing letters and helping her grandchildren, family and many friends.

Please sign the online guest book for Ruth Ann at under obituaries.