ELWOOD – Roger Lee Ashby, age 72, of Elwood, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at AscensionSt. Vincent Mercy Hospital following a very sudden illness.
He was born July 14, 1950, in Elwood, the son of Ervin “Turk” and Mary Jane (Neff) Ashby.
Roger was a 1968 graduate of Frankton High School. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1973 and was stationed stateside at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif.
Roger married the love of his life, Carol Ann Gerard, on May 23, 1981, and they shared nearly 42 years of marriage together.
He was a die setter at General Motors Stamping Plant in Marion for the last 10 years of his working career before retiring in 2008. Roger also formerly worked as a laborer at Guide Lamp in Anderson for 30 years.
He was a member of the Elwood Elks Lodge #368 in Elwood. Roger was a devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood where he served as an usher for many years and he currently served as a board member for St. Joseph Cemetery.
He and Carol enjoyed attending church at St. Mary’s Church in Alexandria and St. John’s Church in Tipton from time to time where they made new friends.
Roger was known for being an avid golfer and could be found on the Elwood Golf Links nearly every day that weather permitted. He also enjoyed working part-time at the golf course for the past 10 years in the Pro Shop and as a part of the mowing crew.
Roger was also especially passionate about fishing and loved going mushroom hunting. He regularly shared his fish catch with friends and neighbors.
Roger was known for always lending a hand to help someone in need. He cherished fishing trips with his grandfather, Luther Neff, as well as a memorable trip with his son, Matthew, to Canada where Roger had spent time as a young boy.
Roger loved sports from an early age and he played a variety of sports, including Little League Baseball, track, pole vaulting, and cross country – winning a couple hundred ribbons through the years. His favorite sports memory was playing pitcher in his senior year for the Frankton Eagles Baseball Team when they won the first sectional in the school’s history against the Anderson High School Indians in 1968.
More than anything, Roger loved spending time with his family and his grandchildren. He will be remembered lovingly as a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
Roger’s family includes his wife, Carol Ashby of Elwood; three children, John (Kim) Ashby of Martinsville, Jenny (Wade) Wingler of Brownsburg and Matthew (Sara) Ashby of Noblesville; four grandchildren, Katie (Noah) Hayden, Jakob Wingler, Eleanor Wingler and Reed Ashby; brother-in-law, Brian Gerard of Indianapolis; sister-in-law, Pat Ashby of Nampa, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Thomas Richard (and wife Juanita) Ashby; sister, Nancy Ashby; sister-in-law, Cindy Gerard; and his in-laws, Victor “Harold” and Evelyn Gerard.
A funeral mass will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood with Father Dennis Goth officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the U.S. Air Force and Elwood V.F.W. Honor Guard at the church immediately following the service.
Burial will take place at a later date at St. Joseph Cemetery in Elwood.
Visitation for family and friends will be from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home and will include a Rosary Service at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions are suggested to T2T.org.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.copherfeslermay.com.
