Carolyn Comstock

Funeral Services: Will be held on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Greenfield with burial in the Greenfield Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church following the committal services at the cemetery. Pastor Eric Schubert will officiate the service.

Open Visitation: Will be held on Monday, September 10, 2018, at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Monday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield. 

Memorials: May be directed to the Fontanelle Public Library.

Carolyn Josephine (Bolton Ruth) Comstock was born November 9, 1937, to William Charles and Clara Josephine (Prewitt) Bolton on a farm north of Fontanelle in Adair County, Iowa. Carolyn rode her pony to country school as a child, and then graduated from Fontanelle High School in 1956.

Following high school, Carolyn worked first for the bank in Fontanelle and then for Schildberg Construction after she moved to Greenfield. Later, after she got all the kids into school, she worked at the automotive shop at Schildberg's, Inc. After the death of her first husband LeRoy (Bud) Ruth, she also worked at G&H Freight and then Zion Treatment Center. She retired in 2010 from Mather Pharmacy, where she worked for approximately 11 years.

Carolyn married Bud Ruth in September, 1960. Together they raised five children: Carol Jo, Ryan Lee, Carmen Sue, Roger Dean, and Dee Ann. They lived on Highway 92, across from the high school where they raised their children in a neighborhood full of kids who had to play outside. They enjoyed taking family trips to Yellowstone, Colorado, upstate New York, and Michigan, and camping in a green canvas army tent along rivers and beside out-of-the way ponds. Carolyn also enjoyed singing in the choir at the Methodist Church, playing the piano, attending every single sporting event and activity her kids were in, playing cards, and going to dances. Bud passed away suddenly in 1983.

Carolyn married Paul Comstock on September 15, 1984, at the United Methodist Church in Greenfield, Iowa. They purchased and renovated a big square farmhouse in rural Greenfield. Nothing was more important to Carolyn than her family. Carolyn and Paul quietly blended two families into one large, noisy family. The Easter and Christmas hams, the Thanksgiving turkeys and the wonderful summer days enjoying the love and laughter of kids, grandkids, and the great-grandchildren delighted Carolyn.

Carolyn also enjoyed trips to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. She and Paul spent many hours winding up and down a mountain road, choosing a road less travelled. Whether it was camping with the kids, long weekends boating in the Ozarks or boat trips up and down the Missouri River, Carolyn and Paul enjoyed their adventures together. Sometimes just getting out of town for a day or two was all they needed, but they also loved mowing their 4-acre yard together on their matching lawn tractors.

After Paul's death in 2014, Carolyn made the difficult decision to sell their treasured farmhouse and buy a smaller house in Fontanelle. She quickly learned to love her independence as she renewed friendships from country school days and made new friends as well. Her days were filled with her weekly coffee group, visits with friends, dinners out, and quiet time reading her Kindle and playing solitaire. As always though, her family came first and she always had time for her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and other relatives.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Richard (Dick) and Donald (Don) Bolton, husbands Bud Ruth and Paul Comstock, and step-son Chad Comstock.

Carolyn is survived by seven children: Carol Narigon, Dayton, OH, Ryan (Diane) Ruth, Anchorage, AK, Carmen (Craig) Don Carlos, Huxley, IA, Roger Ruth, Minneapolis, MN, Dee Ann Ruth, Fontanelle, IA, Chris (Lori) Comstock, Lenox, IA, and Adam (Mindy) Comstock, Greenfield, IA; 15 grandchildren: Carey (Brent) Ponce, Brandon (Dakota) Narigon, Kaila Ruth, Sophie Narigon, Kalvin (Angela) Ruth, Ashlie (Shawn) Moran, Trevor Wambold, Aaron Comstock, Tanner Wambold, Rick Welsch, Tucker Wambold, Ruth Ann Welsch, Mylee and Chase Comstock; 6 great-grandchildren: Alexis and Jaxon Ponce, Cassius Narigon, Coraline Holquist, Brody and Brysen Moran and many nieces, nephews and cousins.