Sandra Jo Ashworth

Sandra Jo Ashworth, age 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, April 3, 2020.

Born on January 12, 1937 to parents Albert Farr and Genevieve (Robinson) Bose, Sandy’s
childhood was framed by the challenges of WWII. Her father served overseas; her mother went
to work at Allison Transmission in Indianapolis. Sandy remained in Bloomington, Indiana where
she was cared for by her maternal grandmother and grandfather, Mossie and John Robinson.

Sandy was a fountain of Depression-era and war-time stories, memories of a world filled with
her grandmother’s college-age boarders and spaghetti dinners, Victory gardens and war
rations, carefully recycled steel cans, and walks to the local library where she would fill her
small red wagon with the books she loved so much. Summers were spent with her paternal
grandparents in Martinsville, Indiana and she loved to tell tales of chores on the farm (family
members can still tell you about 6-year-old Sandra and the Great Rooster Incident of 1943), and
running through the fields with her beloved “Girl Cousins” while being chased by neighborhood
boys armed with frogs, lizards, and snakes.

In due time, Sandy’s mother met and married Forest Bose and Sandy came to live with them in
Indianapolis. She was very proud to have attended Shortridge High School and graduated early
at age 16. At age 18 she married her first husband and in October of 1959 became a mother to
her only child, Scott Matlock.

Early in her career, Sandy worked as a writer for a local Indianapolis television station. In 1962
she took a job with a local corporate photography and marketing firm, Format, Inc., where she
eventually rose to the position of Vice President, Audio-Visual Productions, a position she held
from the late 1960s until the firm’s closing in 1994. A strong and independent woman working
in what was definitely a man’s world, Sandy led a creative team that designed, produced and
staged corporate theatricals and sales meetings for several iconic American companies, chief
among them RCA and divisions of Eli Lilly. A locus of calm and confidence, she earned and
commanded the respect of her clients and all who had the privilege of working with her and
was legendary for her leadership, unfailing sense of humor, and total commitment to
excellence in every project produced.

Sandy met her second husband, Allen Ashworth, while working on projects for RCA where he
was a product manager. Theirs was a marriage based on deep friendship, humor, and a love for
the best things in life: good food, good drink, and good times, shared with friends and family.

Sandy’s work ethic was balanced by her ability to play hard. She exuded an air of intelligence,
poise, and impeccable style, but this was a woman who knew how to celebrate a job well done.
She loved blowing off steam at a post-show party, rewarded a good off-color joke with a hearty
belly laugh and her signature “snort,” wielded a wicked wit, and swore with an inventive glee.
She counted herself fortunate to have traveled extensively in Europe and the U.S. She was
quick to help friends in need and treasured time spent with her family.

In her final years Sandy was a resident of Traditions at Reagan Park, assisted through each day
by a staff of remarkably kind and thoughtful professional caregivers and the loving attention of
her sister, Robin Gibson.

Sandy was preceded in death by her father Albert Farr, mother Genevieve Bose, stepfather
Forest Bose, infant sister Caroline, husband Allen Ashworth, and son Scott Matlock.

She is survived by her grandson Samuel Matlock, granddaughter Lauren Matlock, sister Robin
Gibson (Daniel Gibson), niece Laura Nowling, nephew Adam Gibson, two great nephews, a
great niece, and several cousins.

The last cue has been called and this show is a wrap. Thanks for being you, Sandy.