Harry Ash

Harry William Ash, son of Harry B. and Emma (Peucker) Ash and younger brother of Madeline (Ash) Conlin and Violet (Ash) Teufel, passed away on Friday, September 4, 2015 after a brief illness.Born and raised in Union, New Jersey, Harry was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving as a Petty Officer Third Class during World War II on the USS Teton. After returning home from the war, he married Lorraine Bonkowski of Bloomfield, New Jersey, whom he met at a roller skating rink prior to the war. Together, they raised five children: Mary, Donald, Dennis, Lori, and Susan.Harry was a long-time employee of North Atlantic Life Insurance Company of America, based on Long Island, New York. After retiring in 1985, he and his wife moved to Ocala, Florida, where they became one of the first couples to reside in the Rolling Greens community and long-time members of Our Lady of the Springs Catholic Church.He is predeceased by his parents and two sisters, as well as his eldest son, Donald (1975), and his beloved wife, Lorraine (2014). He is survived by his children, Mary and her husband Jim of Queen Creek, Arizona; Dennis and his wife Dolores of Lindenhurst, New York; Lori of Northborough, Massachusetts; and Susan and her wife Rena of Barre, Massachusetts, in addition to eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.Harry recently celebrated his 90th birthday in July with his family and friends. His high school yearbook from 1942 noted that Harry was known for his "bad jokes," and those who knew him would know this to be true. Harry enjoyed following professional sports teams, especially those in football and baseball. In his younger days, he enjoyed fishing and spending days on the beach with his children when they resided on Long Beach Island, New Jersey and gardening, a skill that ancestry research suggests was something of a family trait. He always spoke proudly of the successes of his family, and the photographs around the house served as a sort of timeline of the expansion of his family through the generations.However, all that knew Harry will remember him most for his selfless service to others. Whether it was selling poppies for VFW drives or transporting countless neighbors in Rolling Greens to various appointments, Harry never thought twice about helping those around him. His family encourages others to emulate his example of service to others as a way to honor his memory.In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his memory to the American Heart Association or to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of his wife, Lorraine Ash.

Harry Ash

December 31, 1969 - September 4, 2015