Richard Cecil Ashton

Dick was born in Snohomish, Washington, and passed away in Kirkland, WA. Following graduation from Snohomish High School, he enrolled at Seattle Pacific College. It was here that he met the love of his life, Ardis Odle of Bellevue. They were married in 1942, just after Dick enlisted in the Alaska Communication System. These were war years and, after a brief training period, he was assigned to Whitehorse, Y.T. The next 3-1/2 years were spent in Anchorage, Alaska, and New Guinea with a period of four months in the states before heading for the tropics. With the end of WWII, came the realization that normalcy would return. Foremost would be a happy reunion with his wife in Bellevue plus being introduced to fatherhood as daughter, Laurel, had joined the family on her father's birthday. Then it was back to school to complete his senior year at Seattle Pacific College. The chosen career of public education began in 1945 and extended to retirement in 1976. Following two years in East Wenatchee, the second as elementary principal, the Ashton family moved back to the coast and chose the recently consolidated Lake Washington School District. For the next 25 years, Dick filled a variety of positions which included Principalships at Redmond Elementary and Kirkland Junior High, and many years at district headquarters. Eleven of these years were spent as Assistant to the Superintendent.

Two children were added to the family, Rich and Janise. An MA degree was earned at the UW. A military connection was made by being commissioned as a Medical Service Corp (MSC) officer in the Washington National Guard; he retired with the rank of Major.

Dick opted for early retirement from the Lake Washington School District in order to travel. Ardis accompanied him as they took their first cruise to the Mediterranean followed by several Caribbean cruises. Tours of Europe, Mexico, Hawaii and Canada were also destinations. His interests were many so spare time was spent in property management, building and gardening.

His life was full with activity at the Bellevue Presbyterian Church as an Elder; weekly national guard drills, and full days in the office, often accompanied by evening committee meetings. Dick died on March 20, 2016, leaving three children, Laurel Saromines (Joseph), Rich Ashton (Rene), Jani Priestley (Michael), five grandsons, five great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews. Ardis, his loving partner for 73 years, greatly misses Dick's presence.

Internment will take place at Tahoma National Cemetery; the date is still to be determined.