Arthur Edsel Ash

Arthur Edsel Ash

At age 82, Arthur "Ed" Ash died peacefully in Danville, CA on Friday after a long illness. He was born on July 12, 1927 on a farm near Verden, Oklahoma to Arthur and Minnie Ash.

After growing up during the depression and WWII, Ed served in a construction battalion of the U.S. Navy. As part of his duty he served at Camp Parks, California near Danville where he would later return to work and raise his family.

Following his Naval service Ed studied at Oklahoma University and married Lenora Ford in 1950.

He owned a plumbing business in Anadarko, was employed on projects in Guam and Iceland and served as the City Manager of Lindsay Oklahoma. After leaving Oklahoma he worked as an engineer in the construction industry on projects across the country including work at NASA's Mississippi test facility and electric power transmission facilities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona and California. The family moved to Danville California in 1969 where he worked on the construction of the Bay Area Rapid Transit System and later became the president of TransDyn Construction.

He is survived by his sister Edna [Ash] Coit, children Paul Ash, Donna [Ash] Sabatasso, and Kelly Ash and grandchildren Matthew, Megan, Elena and Ethan. His sister Patricia Ash who died in childhood precedes him.

A graveside service will be held at Friendship Cemetery on Saturday May 9 at 2:30pm and visitation available on Friday May 8 at the McRay Funeral Home in Chickasha.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association.

Services are under the direction of McRay Funeral Home.