Herbert John Ashe

Highlands, NC - Herbert John Ashe, age 91, of Highlands, NC, passed away on Thursday, August 29, 2013 at Fidelia Eckerd Living Center in Highlands, NC. He was born on April 30, 1922 in Harlem, NY, to parents Michael and Martha Carroll Ashe. He was the oldest of three siblings, Carroll Ashe McIver, deceased and Donald Ashe. He was preceded in death by his first wife of over 50 years, Gloria, his son Tim, and his second wife of 10 years, Enid Hess Ashe. Herb grew up in the Atacama Desert in Chile where he became fluent in Spanish, and attended high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina where he met Enid. He was a World War II Navy pilot and flew PBY"s off the coast of South America. While training at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, he met and married Gloria McCluskey Ashe. They had four children together: Michael, Mary Ellen, Herbert Jr. and Timothy. He was a proud alumnus of Colorado School of Mines where he graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering. Herb worked for Bethlehem Steel for most of his career, which had him living in Venezuela, various parts of Mexico, Bethlehem, PA and Wheeling, WV. He moved to Florida after his retirement and split his time between Highlands and Florida for the last 17 years. He was a member of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Highlands. Herb enjoyed life to the fullest; two of his greatest pleasures in life were a fine whiskey and a bowl of ice cream. He never met a stranger and was always ready with a smile and a joke.

He is survived by his wife, Dorice Pulte Ashe; his daughter, Mary Ellen Madison and her husband George of Zanesville, OH; two sons, Michael Ashe and his wife Maria of Cincinnati, OH and Dr. Herbert Ashe, Jr. and his wife Robin of Houston, TX; his brother, Donald Ashe and his wife, Rita of Greenville, SC; step children and their spouses of Florida and North Carolina, and 9 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, 171 Hospital Drive, Suite 600, Highlands, NC 28741 or Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church, 35 N. 5th Street, Highlands, NC 28741.

Bryant Grant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences are available by visiting bryantgrantfuneralhome.com or by email.