Info from Obituary of Thomas Ashton February 2008

Put in PAF 1 Feb 2008 by John L. Inman inman@jinman.org

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THE MISSOULIAN Monday, February 18, 2008

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MISSOULA n For many months, Tom L. Ashton continued his courageous battle with dementia, commonly called “Alzheimer’s” until at long last, Alzheimer’s won on Feb. 10, 2008.

Tom had been receiving steady and loving care at Rosetta Assisted Living since his family had decided that his wife, who had been caregiver since a stroke in 2001, had seen a noticeable decline in his cognition. His wife, Gerry, was reluctant to resign since she couldn’t be sure anyone else could provide the care she felt he deserved, but she was outvoted. Hospice had been supplementing care along with the staff at Rosetta.

Thomas Loye Ashton was born in Havre on Oct. 9, 1916. His parents were Hazel J. Ashton and father T. Loye Ashton. The family moved to Great Falls in 1918 and two daughters were added: Beverly and Elizabeth May or Betty.

Tom progressed through the Great Falls school system, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1934 and continued his education by graduating from Montana State University in 1939 with a degree in civil engineering, which set his path through various responsible jobs in engineering for the balance of his working years. In 1940, Tom married Geraldine Geiger (Gerry), who was also a MSU graduate in 1939.

World War II interrupted the Master Plan, but he continued using his engineering skills by enlisting in the U.S. Navy and received an ensign commission at the start, progressing to lieutenant during his tenure. Again, he used his training with the Construction Battalion as a Seabee, building runways, airfields and staging facilities on South Pacific islands.

Following the war, he resumed his career as a Resident Engineer and Construction Engineer with the Corps of Engineers in Fort Peck.

In 1952, Tom and Gerry became parents to a son, Kenneth Dale Ashton, who added an important dimension to the family.

In 1969, Tom transferred to Albuquerque, N.M., still with the AEC but now as director, Engineering and Construction Division, and was responsible for eight different AEC area offices throughout the United States, all of which were responsible for design and construction of the U.S. nuclear weapons program.

In 1974, Tom retired from AEC and took “time out” until Stone and Webster Engineering Corp. beckoned him with a job two years later as Contract Administrator on the Second Powerhouse on the Columbia River. This meant a move to Wenatchee, Wash., where Tom and Gerry put down a taproot in that pleasant part of the country for the next 19 years. Tom worked for Stone and Webster on a prearranged limit of two years. Tom and Gerry became involved with volunteer work plus time to fish and explore the country until their house and yard told them to “downsize.” They shopped for a smaller, more manageable, property and found just that in Missoula, close to their Great Falls family. Again, they loved this part of the West.

Surviving family includes his wife, Gerry; son Ken; grandson Hunter and wife Sara; greatgrandson, London Thomas Ashton; sister, Betty Groener; nephews Duffy and Tom Groener; nieces LoyAnn Rembe and Susan Parker.

Cremation has taken place. Friends will be welcomed at 4109 Rainbow Drive, Missoula, on Wednesday, Feb. 20 from noon to 6 p.m. for an open house to celebrate Tom’s memory.

Memorials may be made to Home Care Inc. (Hospice) at 2687 Palmer St., Suite B, Missoula, MT 59808, or a charity of your choice.

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GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE Tuesday, February 19, 2008

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Tom L. Ashton

MISSOULA - World War II Navy veteran Tom L. Ashton, 91, of Missoula, a former Great Falls resident and civil engineer, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease Feb. 10 at a Missoula care facility.
Cremation has taken place. Friends will be welcomed at 4109 Rainbow Drive, Missoula, on Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. for an open house to celebrate his memory.
Surviving family includes his wife, Gerry, son Ken, grandson Hunter and wife Sara, great-grandson, London Thomas Ashton; sister, Betty Groener; nephews Duffy and Tom Groener; and nieces LoyAnn Rembe and Susan Parker.
After many months, Tom L. Ashton had continued his courageous battle with dementia, commonly called "Alzheimers" until at long last, Alzheimers won on Feb. 10, 2008. Tom had been receiving steady and loving care at Rosetta Assisted Living since his family had decided that his wife, who had been Caregiver since a stroke in 2001, had initiated a noticeable decline in his cognition. His wife, Gerry, was reluctant to resign since she couldn't be sure anyone else could provide the care she felt he deserved. But she was outvoted. Hospice had been supplementing care along with the staff at Rosetta.
Thomas Loye Ashton was born in Havre, Mont., on Oct. 9, 1916. His parents were Hazel J. Ashton and T. Loye Ashton. The family moved to Great Falls in 1918, and two daughters were added: Beverly and Elizabeth May "Betty."
Tom progressed through the Great Falls school system, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1934, and continued his education by graduating from Montana State University in 1939 with a degree in civil engineering, which set his path through various responsible jobs in engineering for the balance of his working years. In 1940, Tom married Geraldine "Gerry" Geiger, who was also an MSU graduate, in 1939.
World War II interrupted the master plan, but he continued using his engineering skills by enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He received an ensign commission at the start, progressing to lieutenant during his tenure. Again, he used his training with the construction battalion as a seabee, building runways, airfields and staging facilities on South Pacific islands.
Following the war, he resumed his career as a resident engineer and construction engineer with the Corps of Engineers in Fort Peck, Mont.
In 1952, Tom and Gerry became parents to a son, Kenneth Dale Ashton, who added an important dimension to the family.
In 1969, Tom transferred to Albuquerque, N.M., still with the AEC but now as director, Engineering and Construction Division, and was responsible for eight different AEC area offices throughout the U.S., all of which were responsible for design and construction of the U.S. nuclear weapons program.
In 1974, Tom retired from AEC and took "time out" until Stone and Webster Engineering Corp. beckoned him with a job two years later as contract administrator on the Second Powerhouse on the Columbia River. This meant a move to Wenatchee, Wash., where Tom and Gerry put down a tap root in that pleasant part of the country for the next 19 years. Tom worked for Stone and Webster on a pre-arranged limit of two years. Tom and Gerry became involved with volunteer work and took time to fish and explore the country until their house and yard told them to "downsize." They shopped for a smaller more manageable property and found just that in Missoula, Mont., close to their Great Falls family. Again, they loved this part of the West.
Memorials may be made to Home Care Inc. (Hospice) at 2687 Palmer St., Suite B, Missoula, MT 59808, or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.


Published in the Great Falls Tribune on 2/19/2008.

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HAVRE DAILY NEWS Wednesday, February 13, 2008

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