Colonel James H. Ashhurst III, 87, of Charlottesville, Virginia, died on June 9, 2018, at The Laurels of Charlottesville. Born on October 6, 1930, in Charleston, South Carolina, he was the son of James H. Ashhurst Jr. and Margaret Ann Saulsbery. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Mary Ashhurst. Col. Ashhurst enjoyed distinguished military and civilian careers. He graduated from The Citadel and was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1951. Beginning as a Field Artillery officer, specialties acquired during his career included Operations and Force Development and nuclear weapons employment, and he graduated from the Army War College and the Naval War College. His tours of duty included post-war South Korea; serving as Battalion Commander during the Vietnam War; representing the United States as Senior U.S. official for NATO at their Headquarters in Naples, Italy; and two tours at the Pentagon. Honors he received include: Legion of Merit (awarded four times), Air Medal (awarded five times), Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, U.S. Army Commendation Medal (awarded three times). After retiring from the Army in 1981, he earned an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and began a twenty-year career as a management consultant for universities (including the University of Virginia), governments and Fortune 100 companies in the U.S. and overseas. He also continued to serve the Army he loved by implementing JROTC programs in high schools throughout southern California with primary responsibilities as Senior Army Instructor and Officer in Charge of the Fullerton High School JROTC. And as a university instructor who loved to teach he helped others along the path to becoming teachers. “The Colonel”, as he is known by those closest to him, is survived by his wife, Roxana Colvin of Charlottesville; his son, Kenneth Ralph Ashhurst, and grandson, Kenneth Ryan Ashhurst, his daughter, Tina and her husband, Jean-Christophe Blanc, of London, England and their children, Pierre and Max; his son, Jimmy Ashhurst of Los Angeles, California; and his sister, Ann and her husband, Joe Wolf, of Charleston, South Carolina. “Grandpa Jim”, as he is fondly known by Roxana’s family, is also survived by her daughter, Heather and her husband, Scott Parkinson, of Palmyra, Virginia, and their children, Kiersten, Sheridan, and Jamie; and her son, Ashley Colvin and his wife, Dr. Alison Breland, of Richmond, Virginia, and their daughter, Rosie. The family wishes to thank the staff of The Laurels of Charlottesville for the care they gave “the Colonel”. A private service was held in Charlottesville, and interment will be held at Forest Lawn in Cerritos, California. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA), 674 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hillandwood.com.
Posted in: tributes.com
Posted on: 2018-06-18
Link to original obituary: http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/James-H.-Ashhurst-106187643