Bethany Reformed Church
705 Cajon Street, Redlands CA 92373 (909)793-1966
Getting to Know…
Del and Izzy Ash
Eighty-four years ago the good Lord blessed this world with two very special people who have had a tremendously positive impact on many other lives. I am one of those people, so it was a rare treat for me to spend some time with them recently. Come along with me and get to know them up close and personal.
Adella, but Del to everyone, Mouw was born in Sioux Center, Iowa, the second youngest of six children: four girls and two boys. Mom Hannah was a homemaker and according to Del, a precious saint. Dad Henry was a farmer and a butcher by trade but loved music and insisted his children have music lessons. Henry instilled in them all a love of music that would last a lifetime. While Del was growing up even her free-time interests were musical in nature: pep band, choir, and plays. She says she never met an instrument she didn’t want to learn to play but settled for piano, mellophone, baritone, trombone, French horn, violin, and saxophone. But she also enjoyed playing tennis and ping-pong. To earn some pocket money she did music transcription for her band teacher for a nickel a page….good money for a student.
Isburne, a.k.a. Izzy, Ash was born in Holland, Michigan to Angie, a homemaker and Charlie, a telephone lineman. He was the second oldest of four siblings: two girls and two boys. He was always an active kid and enjoyed tennis, ice-skating, weight lifting, cheerleading and, of course, drawing. As a teen he worked for a resort making five cents an hour. And later on he worked in a hotel that proved to be momentous as it was there that he met two of Del’s sisters.
You see, Del’s family had moved to Holland after one of the sisters married a Michigan-der. Her sisters who worked with Izzy ended up introducing him to Del and according to her she melted when she first saw him. But what really clinched the deal for Del was when Izzy arrived for their first date in a shiny, red convertible, her dream car! Well, almost 63 years and four children later we know that it was a great decision on both their parts!
Theirs was a lively household as one by one the children came along: first Randy, now living in Ukiah, CA, then Greg who now lives in Mentone, third was Scott, a sweet baby boy who went to be with the Lord at six months of age, and finally Yvonne, now living in Yucaipa. The Ash’s take great pride in their children and five living grandchildren; but they were not the only ones who called the Ash’s house their home. Over the year’s grandchildren, friends and relatives have received not only a roof over their heads but all the love, help, caring and guidance that their hearts could give.
In 1953 Izzy and Del decided that one more Michigan winter of snow and ice was not what they wanted. As they said, “If there’s a place where there is no snow then why do we live here?” Pasadena, California was their destination. Del’s sister Marie lived there but they stopped in Redlands to visit with her brother Wilbur and they never left. In the first two years they moved five times with the last move being to the house on Eureka St. where they lived happily for the next 50 years.
Izzy is proud of the four years that he spent in the United States Army under General Patton liberating Czechoslovakia plus his time in the National Guard. He also worked as an upholsterer, a volunteer fireman, a newspaper columnist, a cartoonist, and for 28 years he was a mail carrier. His interests have included leading a Boy Scout Troop, painting murals at several schools, and bowling. A little know fact is that he is in the Bowling Hall of Fame in St. Louis, MO. Art has been a passion of his since his childhood and many of us have been the recipients of some of his lovely paintings.
Del has had a myriad of careers: as a secretary at the YWCA, childcare in her home, a substitute aide in the RUSD, and working at Sligers Music Store. When the Ash’s began coming to Bethany in 1953 Rev. Muller asked if she would start a children’s choir and later an adult choir. This led into her being a choir director at Christ the King Church and for over 20 years right here at Bethany. Music has played such an important role in her life; she was part of the Mouw Trio (Poodle Norris and Freida Jalving were the other two in the trio) who made a record, sang on TV with Pat Boone, sang on the radio and at conventions and for church groups. Crosswords, cryptograms, gardening, visiting shut-ins, wallpapering, decorating and woodworking are all interests that she has had. As she says, she is curious about everything and has a very adventurous spirit!
Del and Izzy have been an integral part of Bethany with both of them involved in almost every aspect of our church. Izzy has been a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, an usher, a chalk-talk artist, and has done many backdrops we have used for plays, etc. Izzy loves the book of Proverbs and thinks it gives very good advice. He wonders how people can look at creation, a flower, a bee, and not believe in God. Del has been not only our choir director but also has directed the bells, and the orchestra. She also is involved in the tape ministry. She says that she was asked to be an Elder and a Deacon but did not feel called to those positions but she has done most everything else!
Del told me that when she meets someone who is not a believer she asks, “What if I am wrong and you are right, what have I lost? Nothing. I have God’s love, people who care, food if needed, etc. But what if I’m right and you’re wrong, where will you be? You have nothing.” Philippians 4:11-13 encompasses her whole way of living, she is content no matter what her circumstances and the way that she lives her life is by asking God to bless her to be a blessing to someone today. She thanks God for her talent but mostly for giving her the opportunities to use them for Him.
Izzy and Del love the people of Bethany dearly and want everyone to know how thankful they are for their prayers while Izzy was sick. We want them to know that Bethany would not be the warm and loving place it is without people like them, people that make our church a family.
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