Russell Ash

Russell Harlow Ash, age 72, of Quincy, died Monday, September 7, 2015, at 10:40 am in Good Samaritan Home. Russell was born April 7, 1943 in Washington, District of Columbia, the son of Ara Russell and Pauline Patricia Hymon Ash. He graduated from Cordell (Oklahoma) High School in 1961. In 1963, he graduated from Oklahoma State University with an Associates Degree in Technical Education. In 1966, he graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture and Applied Science. In 1971, he graduated from Clemson University in South Carolina with a Masters of Science in Management. During his High School years, he worked on a farm in Oklahoma. In the summers, he operated heavy equipment building terraces and dams. He also repaired the equipment himself. After graduation from Oklahoma State, Russell was hired by Allis Chalmers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked on the outdoor products task force and engineering staff. He was sent to Columbia, South Carolina, to help start a plant for the manufacture of all-terrain vehicles. This was the beginning of his career specializing in the start-up of new manufacturing facilities. From 1968-1971 he was the ma...[more]

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er of industrial engineering at the Sangamo Electric Plant in West Union, South Carolina. He then spent a year at Worthington Incorporated in Denver, Colorado, as manager of manufacturing services. He was instrumental in relocating this company to a new facility in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1971, where he served as manager of manufacturing. In 1974, he was plant manager for the start-up of a new Kelsey Hayes plant in Seminole, Oklahoma. In 1978, he was plant manager of French and Hecht in Davenport, Iowa. He spent one year at Norris Industries in Long Beach, California. In 1983, he and his family moved to Quincy where he helped start Can-Am and served as plant manager. That company would become Titan Wheel. He worked there as Vice-President until his retirement. In his spare time, Russell enjoyed playing tennis and golf, hunting, and traveling. Survivors include: four children: Tracy Scott of Oklahoma City, OK; Russell Scott Ash of Quincy; Erin (Parker) Armbruster of Quincy; and Colin Ash of Quincy; eight grandchildren: Taylor Burt and Hayden Stites of Oklahoma City, OK; Logan Jeffers or Gallatin, MO; Raven Ash of Camp Point, IL; Dagen Ash of Quincy; and Aiden, Adalyn, and Ashton Armburster, all of Quincy; a great-grandson, Carter Burt of Oklahoma City, OK; a sister, Marilyn (Michael) Thomas of Greenwood Village, CO; and a nephew, Christopher Thomas of Greenwood Village, CO. Russell was preceded in death by his parents Visitation: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Friday September 11, 2015 at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials are requested to benefit QUEST therapeutic riding facility. Russell loved animals and was fascinated by the physical therapy children received from the horses. He hoped to assist area therapy students and continue to improve the facility to meet the needs of those students and to rescue horses. www.hansenspear.com Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.