Retha M. Hough, age 99, of West Chester, Iowa, died Sunday, March 24, 2019, at the Halcyon House in Washington.

Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 29, 2019, at the Timmins Room at Halcyon House. Calling hours will begin noon Thursday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 Thursday evening. Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday at the West Chester Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials have been established for Hospice of Washington County. Online condolences may be sent for Retha's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Retha was born April 17, 1919, near Dublin, Iowa, the daughter of Roscoe and Margaret (Trier) Robertson. She attended country school and graduated from Washington High School in 1937. Retha won the Washington County Spelling Bee in 1937. She was united in marriage to John S. Hough on June 6, 1937, in Kahoka, Missouri.

She was a cook at West Chester School from 1950 until 1963 and then worked at Advance Ross Electronics from 1965 until 1970. She later worked as a cook at the Washington Junior High School. Through the years, Retha belonged to the Women's Relief Corp that decorated the West Chester, New Haven and Tyrone Cemeteries. She was a member of the United Federated Church in West Chester until its closing and was a member of the Pythian Sisters. She played the piano "by ear" with Bob Pearson's band for several years. Recently she played for the residents of Halcyon House. Retha was famous for her pies and was the C.E.O. of Grannie's Funnel Cakes. She always had a large garden and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Chicago Cubs fan.

She is survived by sons: Larry Dee Hough of Washington, Iowa; Jay Lynn Hough and wife Carol Whetstine Hough of West Chester, Iowa; and Robert Ray Hough of West Chester, Iowa; five grandchildren: Terri Lynn (Joe) Hough-Hoffman; Jeffery Lee Hough and significant other Anne Zeches; Garrett Leon Hough and significant other Vicki Hunt; Stephanie Ann Hough (Gail) Lockard; and Tyler (Kelley Krabacher) Hough. She is also survived by six great grandchildren: Jarrett Hoffman, Cleveland Hoffman, Michell Hoffman, Sawyer Hough, Landon Hough and Kenney Lockard.

Retha was preceded in death by her husband, John Stephen Hough in 1995, daughter-in-law, Judith Curl Hough; sister, Meryl Richardson and twin brothers, Cloyce and Clayton Robertson.