Dolores Dee M. Fink Ashby

Dolores Fink Ashby, a life long resident of the Greater Cleveland area, told stories to children in the Rocky River School system. She was beloved by the children as she told and acted out her countless stories, never reading them. She was also the author of a children’s book “Baby Bunny’s Promise”. She taught Sunday school at Bay Methodist and Bay Presbyterian churches and her popular high school class was attended by over 50 children of all faiths. In later years, she enjoyed attending Fields United Methodist Church in North Ridgeville.

Mrs. Ashby was also the owner of Ingersoll Hardware in Rocky River in the 1990’s and was also active in community affairs, holding many offices in the Bay Women’s Club and the Bay Westerly PTA. She was a past President of the Bay Village 100 club and a member of Eastern Star North Olmsted lodge. She also served on the Sunshine Committee for the Westlake/Bay Rotary Club.

Born in Cleveland at St Luke’s hospital she was the only child of Herbert and Alice Fink. Mr. Fink for many years was the Vice President and Sales Manager of Barker and Sons, a leading Cleveland supplier of office supplies in the later half of the twentieth century.

Her first husband, Dick Dillon, a Past President of the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce, died at the age of 41 only six months after the family purchased Ingersoll Hardware in Rocky River. While raising their two children, she successfully ran the business for five years prior to selling it. After Mr. Dillon’s death she married John Ashby, a well-known local advertising executive and the chairman of Ashby Dillon, Inc. advertising agency. For a number of years Dolores worked alongside her husband at the company. Dolores and John enjoyed 41 years of marriage together.

She is survived by five children, Lowell Dillon, Karen (Dillon) Labyk , Jack Ashby, Jr., Jill (Ashby) Sharillo and Claudia (Ashby) Meade, and seventeen grandchildren and many great grandchild. Dolores will be remembered for her kind and giving nature and the many ways she loved and supported her husband, children, grandchildren, family and friends. She was loved by all who her knew her and admired for her positive, outgoing and energetic spirit.

Visitation will be at Catavolos-Berry Funeral Home, 23040 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake OH, 44145, on Thursday, January 15, from 4:00 to 7:30. Funeral services will be Friday morning at 10:00 at the funeral home.