Funeral service for Gerald "Jerry" W. Ash, 84, Lawton, Oklahoma will be at 1:00 pm, Friday, March 12, 2010 at Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home Chapel with Jim Antwine, officiating.
SFC Ash died on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 in Lawton, Oklahoma.
A special visitation for family and friends will be Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 6 pm til 8 pm.
Gerald was born on May 29, 1925 in Des Moines, Iowa to George W. Ash and Helen Florence (Stenstrum) Ash. He joined the Army in 1946 and served in Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Germany, and Italy. He received many medals and awards including the Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Occupation Germany Medal WWII, National Defence Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Expert Rifleman Award. He worked as a mess sergeant. He retired from the army with 23 years, 5 months and 3 days of faithful service. He then worked as a janitor for Central Junior High School. He married Caterina "Rina" Donadel on July 2, 1947 in Lido De Venice, Italy. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 5263 and was a former member of the Star Promanders Square Dance Club, Kuntry Kuzers Square Dance Club, South Central District Square Dance Association where he served as first Vice President. He also was a part time square dance caller.
He is survived by his wife, Caterina Ash, of the home; his son and daughter in law, Gerald and Linda Ash, of Lawton; his daughter and son in law, Leandra M. and David Steinberg, of Woodbury, New Jersey; his grandchildren, Brett D. Steinberg, of Woodbury, New Jersey and Brian J. Steinberg, of Woodbury, New Jersey, Conor Taylor Ash, of Lawton, and Lindsay L. Ash, of Lawton; his great grandchildren, Brian J. Steinberg, Jr., of Woodbury, New Jersey and Bailee Mae Allison, of Lawton; many nieces and nephews including, Gary Ash, of Des Moines, Iowa, Gayle Ash, of Des Moines, Iowa, Graziella Romiti and her husband, Franco, of Milano, Italy, Alessio Romiti, of Milano, Italy, and Viviana Romiti, of Milano, Italy.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents, James Taylor and Laura Ash; his brother, Arthur Warren Ash; his sister, Maxine Evelyn Shelton; and three half brothers, George Conley Ash, Paul Jasper Ash, and James Taylor Ash; and one half sister, Lola Milby.