Don Ashe

May 20, 1927 - October 2, 2021

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Donald George Ashe, 94, of Rolling Green Village in Greenville, SC, went to be with His Lord after a struggle with illnesses surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

Born in Chile, he was a son of the late Michael and Martha Carroll Ashe. While visiting his sister, Carroll, a Registered Nurses at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, Don was introduced to her fellow Nurse and roommate, Charlene Garland. Charlene became the love of his life, and they were married for 60 years until her passing in 2010.

Don spent his young years at the remote mining community near Chuquicamata, Chile until his teens when he moved to Arizona. He graduated from Bisbee High School in 1945 and enlisted in the US Navy where he served his country overseas. After completing his tour of duty, Don attended and flourished at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO where he received his degree in metallurgical engineering. After graduation, he began his career in the mining industry at the Cananea Copper Mine in Cananea, Mexico. In 1954, he moved his young family to Broomall, PA where he went to work for Allen Sherman Hoff Company and was later promoted to president and partner of the A-S-H Pump Division. Throughout Don’s long and very successful career in the mining pump industry, he became a knowledgeable and well-respected leader in the field both across the United States and internationally.

Don was a kind and caring husband, father and friend and extended that generosity and spirit through his involvement with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In his retirement years, he and Charlene enthusiastically devoted many years to this worthwhile organization while they were living in Naples, FL.

He is survived by his daughters, Michele Peterson (Ronald) of Simpsonville, SC and Cynthia Brown (Mark) of Greenville, SC; his Sons, David Ashe (Donna) of Exton, PA, Douglas Ashe (Susan) of McMurray, PA, and Daniel Ashe (Cindy) of Hatboro, PA; and a daughter-in-law, Margaret Ramos Ashe of Juneau, AK. Don was known as “Poppy” to his 17 grandchildren and 22 (and counting!) great grandchildren, all of whom he affectionately called his “Amigos”.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his oldest son, Donald Garland Ashe of Juneau, AK in 2009; his brother, Herbert Ashe; his sister, Carroll McIver; and most recently, his second wife of seven years, Rita Peeples of Greenville, SC.

A private family service will be held in Greenville, SC where he will be interred with his beloved Charlene.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Don’s name to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 4451 Mercantile Ave, Naples, FL 34104, https://www.svdpnaples.org/donate.

Donald George Ashe, 94, of Rolling Green Village in Greenville, SC, went to be with His Lord after a struggle with illnesses surrounded by his family on Saturday, October 2, 2021. Born in Chile, he was a son of the late Michael and Martha Carroll Ashe. While visiting his sister, Carroll, a Registered Nurses atContinue Reading

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The news of Mr. Ashe's passing greatly saddened me. Fist time I met him when he was working as a consultant for KSB/Germany and GIW its Mining Division in Augusta/GA What an amazing personality he had and a professional person he was. My favorite moment with him was when after retirement, I ran into him on our trans-ocean cruise to Italy by surprise. We just enjoyed this time together. My sincere condolences Hellmut Wegner

In 1980 Don hired me at ASH Pump and he let me be my owne man. He told me when first hired me to follow something his father/my grandfather told him, "Be honest no matter how much it hurts and things will work out".

He was a wonderful man and it was a pleasure to have known him. RIP Mr. Ashe.

Uncle Don was a kind and sweet man. Many memories of days gone bye.

Don was larger than life and enjoyed it to its fullest. Husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle to an ever expanding clan. Rest in peace Tio. We love and miss you.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

I’m so sorry to hear of Mr. Ashe’s passing. He had a great sense of humor. My favorite when he would come into our office was “ you have that square needle for me?”.

Don was President of Ash Pump when I joined as a part-time Lab Tech in the mid 1970s; I never left the business he trained me for. His obituary is correct regarding his accomplishments. I was fortunate to benefit from how he got it done. He made everything simple and clear. He came to my Father’s funeral when I was the lowest on the Totem Pole and mentored me through major career milestones. We traveled the US, Canada and Europe over almost five decades and became dear friends, piling up some successes and many good memories. One was visiting in Naples, catching him in the middle of work for Saint Vincent de Paul. He lived a good life personally and professionally. I was glad I could share with him in August that I was retiring next year. My last piece of precious time with him. Dear God, I miss him. My thoughts and prayers go out to Michele and Cindy who took such good care of him at the end and Dave, Doug and Dan who were colleagues at “The Pump Company” and their families. It’s a cross-generational Blessing that my son became friends with one of The Amigos.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.