Carmen Kost Ashwood, 95, of Macomb, formerly of rural Vermont, died at 7:52 a.m. May 4, 2020.Carmen Kost Ashwood, 95, of Macomb, formerly of rural Vermont, died at 7:52 a.m. May 4, 2020.
She was born Aug. 16, 1924, on the family farm south of Vermont in Fulton County, the daughter of Zeb and Maude Cruiser Kost. She married Thomas Ashwood on Nov. 16, 1947. He preceded her in death on April 16, 2018.
She also was preceded in death by one brother, Stephen Kost and her twin brother, Carroll Kost.
Surviving are one daughter, Susan (and John) Kissick of Quincy; one son, Stephen (and Janice) Ashwood of Macomb; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Her sophomore year in high school, she decided to study nursing since J. Edgar Hoover had written in a personal letter dated Oct. 31, 1938, he trained no female Special Agents at that time because of the strenuous nature of the work. She earned her RN from St John’s Hospital in Springfield, and as a cadet nurse, was assigned to Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek, Mich., where she worked in the rehabilitation ward caring for amputees, both American soldiers and German prisoners during World War II. She later worked at St Francis Hospital in Macomb.
She was a tailor and seamstress. She served as a volunteer Red Cross nurse, PTA homeroom mother, Sunday school teacher, was a member of University of Illinois McDonough County Home Extension and 4-H leader for many years. She was a member of Chapter C, PEO for over 70 years.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Private inurnment will be held at a later date. Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home in Macomb was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Vermont Christian Church, MDH Hospice or Chapter C, PEO (Cottey College).
Condolences may be sent to www.dodsworthfh.com.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus