Obituary for Donald Carter Ashton Sr.
Perry, GA formerly of Portsmouth R.I. – Donald C Ashton Sr., age 82 died August 17, 2021 in Perry, Georgia, surrounded by his family.
Don was born on October 11, 1938 in Newport, R.I. He was the youngest of 3 boys of the late Samuel and Dorothy Ashton.
Raised in the North End of Newport, Don was active in Boy Scouts, the Caledonians and the YMCA. Graduated from Rogers High School Class of 1957 lettering in several Varsity sports.
Entered the U.S. Air Force and was trained to be an Electronic Systems Instructor at Keesler AFB in Mississippi. After honorable discharge Don worked as a systems instructor for General Electric in Syracuse NY. He was selected for the GE apprentice Program @ Union College / University of Alabama and was awarded a New York State Professional Engineering License. Don relocated to numerous locations supporting NASA Manned Moon Program with GE.
Don returned to his beloved Aquidneck Island when he accepted employment at Raytheon Portsmouth as a System/ Program Management Engineer and later General Dynamics when the Trident Submarine Program started @ NUWC. Newport.
Don accepted a civil service appointment as a US NAVY Systems Engineer assigned to Trident Submarine Program Newport, as a member of the shore facilities design review board, the training & refit facilities at Sub-base Bangor, Washington were developed and constructed during his tenure. The Newport Land based CCS facility was developed to support the Trident ship building program and become the headquarters for deployment support, Don served as a TRICCSMA Department Head prior to becoming self employed as a Consultant.
He was involved in the torpedo performance evaluation program at NUWCNPT for 20 years as a self employed engineer and a system analyst for several companies. He retired with over 40 years experience in the Weapon System Development business.
Don was involved in youth sports in Newport and Portsmouth as a coach, league officer, and a member of several Boards of Directors also active in local engineering professional societies, IEEE, American Management Association and Independent International Quality Assessment Group.
Don & Jan traveled extensively for work and pleasure covering all the world continents and 50 states.
Don’s family consisted of, predeceased brothers George and Bob and he was survived by his loving wife Janice married for 46 years, 4 children, son Donald Jr. wife Cate, daughter Karen Ashton-McKenna and partner Barry Meunier, son Jeffery and wife Marian, Son Donald David wife Danielle, 10 Grand children: Kira Weaver and husband Clint , Jillian Dubois and partner Meaghan Fiske, Jeffery Ashton Jr. and wife Trista, Nathan Ashton and wife Jennifer, Zeben Ashton and husband Michael, Cassandra Ashton-Griffin and Husband Dan, Matthew McKenna and wife Amanda, Shannon McKenna and partner Alex Costa, Ella Ashton and Aiden Ashton. 9 Great Grandchildren Carter Bo, Conner Reed, Emerson Lou, Livia Mae, Cooper Ellis, River, Nicola, Henry and Baby McKenna.
Celebration of Life will be at Elks in Newport, RI on August 28, 2021 from 12-3 pm. All are welcome.
Don was born on October 11, 1938 in Newport, R.I. He was the youngest of 3 boys of the late Samuel and Dorothy Ashton.
Raised in the North End of Newport, Don was active in Boy Scouts, the Caledonians and the YMCA. Graduated from Rogers High School Class of 1957 lettering in several Varsity sports.
Entered the U.S. Air Force and was trained to be an Electronic Systems Instructor at Keesler AFB in Mississippi. After honorable discharge Don worked as a systems instructor for General Electric in Syracuse NY. He was selected for the GE apprentice Program @ Union College / University of Alabama and was awarded a New York State Professional Engineering License. Don relocated to numerous locations supporting NASA Manned Moon Program with GE.
Don returned to his beloved Aquidneck Island when he accepted employment at Raytheon Portsmouth as a System/ Program Management Engineer and later General Dynamics when the Trident Submarine Program started @ NUWC. Newport.
Don accepted a civil service appointment as a US NAVY Systems Engineer assigned to Trident Submarine Program Newport, as a member of the shore facilities design review board, the training & refit facilities at Sub-base Bangor, Washington were developed and constructed during his tenure. The Newport Land based CCS facility was developed to support the Trident ship building program and become the headquarters for deployment support, Don served as a TRICCSMA Department Head prior to becoming self employed as a Consultant.
He was involved in the torpedo performance evaluation program at NUWCNPT for 20 years as a self employed engineer and a system analyst for several companies. He retired with over 40 years experience in the Weapon System Development business.
Don was involved in youth sports in Newport and Portsmouth as a coach, league officer, and a member of several Boards of Directors also active in local engineering professional societies, IEEE, American Management Association and Independent International Quality Assessment Group.
Don & Jan traveled extensively for work and pleasure covering all the world continents and 50 states.
Don’s family consisted of, predeceased brothers George and Bob and he was survived by his loving wife Janice married for 46 years, 4 children, son Donald Jr. wife Cate, daughter Karen Ashton-McKenna and partner Barry Meunier, son Jeffery and wife Marian, Son Donald David wife Danielle, 10 Grand children: Kira Weaver and husband Clint , Jillian Dubois and partner Meaghan Fiske, Jeffery Ashton Jr. and wife Trista, Nathan Ashton and wife Jennifer, Zeben Ashton and husband Michael, Cassandra Ashton-Griffin and Husband Dan, Matthew McKenna and wife Amanda, Shannon McKenna and partner Alex Costa, Ella Ashton and Aiden Ashton. 9 Great Grandchildren Carter Bo, Conner Reed, Emerson Lou, Livia Mae, Cooper Ellis, River, Nicola, Henry and Baby McKenna.
Celebration of Life will be at Elks in Newport, RI on August 28, 2021 from 12-3 pm. All are welcome.