It Happened in Crawford County: Wendy Ash's career path followed her mother's footsteps

Wendy Ash is a daughter of Bill and Ruth Williams, and her siblings are Kim Binnix, Steve, and Shan Ehrman. Wendy started school at Carlisle, but they soon moved, and she went to Norton. Wendy said she enjoyed being on the sidelines, including sports and watching her sister who was a cheerleader. The only part she didn’t like was geometry and wonders why she took it since she always planned to do hair. She graduated in 1977 from Bucyrus High School.

Wendy was ready for adventure after graduation and moved to Columbus with her best friend Tammy Villasana. They started training at the Ohio State School of Cosmetology for the next year to receive a cosmetology license. One of those adventures was the big blizzard. The girls lived in a first-floor apartment. The snow was so deep it covered the windows, and they couldn’t see outside. Their parents always sent food, so they didn’t have to worry about being hungry. Wendy had an MG Midget, a small car, and it was totally buried. Eventually, they finally got shoveled out and they have many memories of that experience.

Wendy watched everyone she went to school with getting the different haircuts that were coming in style, but she held off. Her hair was so long, she could sit on it. Finally, Wendy gave in, and her sister Kim, also a hairstylist, cut Wendy’s hair a month before graduation.

“Hair” is a familiar word in Wendy’s family. Her mom, Ruth, received her cosmetology license and began working at Margaret Ann Myer’s salon beside the post office. Next, Ruth opened her own business, “William’s Beauty Salon,” in her home on Hopley Avenue. Wendy had a running start doing hair, as well as her sister Kim. They earned their allowances by working for mom. Eventually, the family moved to Kramer Avenue and Ruth continued her business there.

Ruth did hair for 36 years, but the hair sprays were filled with lacquer and other products that could be considered harmful. It affected Ruth’s sinuses so much that she couldn’t continue working as a hairstylist. She went into food service for the next 20 years, mostly at the elementary school, and then retired.

Wendy’s dad, Bill, worked for the phone company 40 years and then he retired and can enjoy golfing now.

Wendy worked at her mom’s salon for about 11 years and during this time she married David Brown in 1980. He was working for J & F Construction and shortly after their marriage, while at work, he lost the use of his right side, and it affected his speech. In January 1980 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He lived four years, but he went blind and suffered with seizures. David’s Aunt Mary Snook came from Toledo and cared for him so Wendy could continue working. He passed away in November 1984.

Wendy started working at the Curl Corner because her friend Tammy was working there. She was already making plans to open her own her salon, Creative Options, at the corner of Charles and Walnut. Wendy joined Tammy for the next 11 years but moved on for business reasons. Lora Weithman opened the 180-Degree Salon and Wendy joined her, along with one of the other stylists, Kelly Redmon. Eventually, Kelly opened her own salon, Kennedy Layne, at the corner of North Sandusky and East Mary Street. Wendy joined Kelly and assures her clients that she has no plans for moving again or retiring.

Amidst Wendy’s professional changes, her personal life changed in 2001 when Wendy met Steve Ash. Their first conversation led to a sharing, because they both had been through similar heartache with their ill spouses. They eventually married in December 2002. Steve worked at Timken for 25 years. He enjoys working around the home, hosting pool parties and watching the Wildcats, his Kentucky basketball team.

Wendy thinks she’s folded more towels in her lifetime than probably anyone else since she’s been doing hair for almost 45 years. Even some of her mom’s clients continued on with Wendy. Making people look and feel good and developing lifelong friends, it couldn’t be better. Wendy says she wouldn’t do hair all these years if she didn’t enjoy it, although being on her feet is a big challenge.

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