Ada Ashbaugh

Ashbaugh, Ada
of Kalamazoo, MI Ada was born in Stoke-on Trent, Staffordshire, England on March 2, 1918, the younger of identical twins, to Mary and Joseph Stubbs. When it was apparent that war was imminent, she was inducted as a member of The Women's Auxiliary Air Force WAAF and served until discharged in 1945. She began her Air Force duty as an ambulance driver and later was transferred to clerical duty. It was while in the service that she met her future husband, an American on the Royal Air Force Base where both were stationed. Prior to her induction into the Royal Air Force, she and her sister served in the Home Guard as rooftop fire watchers. On April 7, 1945 Ada Stubbs and Kenneth Gordon Ashbaugh were joined in marriage in the Parish Church of St. John the Evangelist, Trent Vale, by Vicar the Rev. I.D.W. Knowles. Although her husband returned to the States in the summer of 1945, she was not able to book passage until available space could be made for the war brides and eventually landed in New York City in February, 1946. In September that year she and her husband moved to California where he went to work for the Asgrow Seed Company and they lived there until 1972 when he was transferred to Kalamazoo. Ada became a naturalized citizen in 1952. She first began work as a parts packer for the local Chrysler plant but soon moved into the retail trade in a department store in a dress making capacity. After moving to Kalamazoo, she remained a home maker. Ada was preceded in death by her twin sister Phyllis and by 2 other sisters, Florence and Doris and by 2 brothers, William and Joseph. Surviving are her husband Kenneth; several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be on Friday from 12:30 - 1:30 pm where services will be held at 1:30 pm at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Comstock Chapel, 6121 King Highway with Minister Scott Burdick officiating. Interment at 2:30 pm at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ada's memory be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Please visit www.langelands.com to sign the online register book and leave a condolence to the family.