Obituary of Asa M. Rouse

Asa Rouse, 93, lifelong resident of Walton, KY, passed away on Friday, August 4, 2023, at St. Elizabeth Hospice in Edgewood, KY. The son of the late William Wendall Rouse and Louise {Jack} Rouse, Asa was born in Walton on July 11, 1930. He married the love of his life, Elizabeth “Libby” Rouse on June 18, 1952, she passed away on August 26, 2016.

Asa obtained his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Kentucky, College of Law, in 1953. Before graduating, he was a college student council member and member of the Legal Honorary Fraternity. After graduation, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Law College Alumni Association between 1979 and 1981. He then went on to become the Boone County District Judge, by appointment, from 1964 to 1973 and then served on the Kentucky Supreme Court in 1983. He owned and operated his law firm, Rouse & Rouse, which was recognized in 1988 as the Pro Bono Firm of the Year by the Legal Aid Society.

Over the years, Asa obtained many professional and non-professional awards and commendations. He received the Certificate of Achievement from the Northern Kentucky Bar Association in 1998, Title of Senior Counselor from the Kentucky Bar Association in 2003, Honorary Master of the Bench from the Salmon P. Chase American Inn of Court in 2004, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northern Kentucky Bar Association in 2006. The Gold Wing Road Riders Association designated him Master Tour Rider in 2004 and Senior Chapter Educator for Chapter G and was awarded the Mileage Award in 2003 after traveling 26,692 miles in one year on a motorcycle and the Kentucky Educator of the Year in 2004.

He was a member of Walton United Methodist Church and held memberships with the Board of Directors of Star Bank, Kentucky Bar Association, Northern Kentucky Bar Association, Board of Trustees of the Kentucky Judicial Retirement System, Board of Trustees of the Kentucky Legislators Retirement System, Board of Trustees of Booth Memorial Hospital (where he also served two terms as Chairman of the Board), Chairman of Woodspoint Nursing Home, Committee of the Kentucky Hospital Association, Advisory Council for the Kentucky Cabinet for Human Resources, the Woman’s Crisis Center, American forestry Association, Board of Directors of Verona Bank for 25 years, Foundation Board of St. Luke Hospitals East & West, Merit Board of the Boone County Police Department, Judicial Nomination Commission of Kentucky, American Motorcyclist Association, Howdy Boys Social Club, Walton-Verona Businessmen’s Association, Restoration Committee of Gaines Historical Home, Dixie Guys Luncheon Club, Gold Wing Road Riders Association, and the Central Kentucky Riders.

Those that are left to carry on Asa’s legacy are his children, Mills (Charlene) Rouse, Amy (Bobby) Arnett, and Rebecca (Mike) Glenn; grandchildren Addison (Alisha) Rouse, Clinton (Lydia) Arnett, Holden (Soyeon) Rouse, Kate (Mike) Bahou, Gillian (Boone) Meadows, and Shannon Glenn; and great-grandchildren Shae Marie Rouse, Davy Gray, and Drew Gray.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Libby Rouse.

A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family at Walton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations made in Asa’s name to Walton Cemetery in C/O Joella Flynn at 12409 Crouch Rd. Walton, KY 41094 or to the Boone County Historical Society at P.O Box 23 Florence, KY 41022-0023 are appreciated. To share a memory or leave an online condolence, please visit the corresponding tabs on this page.