George I Ash

Funeral Services for George I. Ash, Jr. will be held on Monday, January 4, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Alma, Nebraska with Pastor Paul Ferrarone officiating. Interment will follow at the Alma Cemetery with military honors provided by the Fay Cady American Legion Post #118 of Alma in conjunction with the Offutt Air Force Base Military Honor Guard.

George Ira Ash, Jr., 87 years of age, of Alma, passed away on Friday, December 18, 2015 at CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island, Nebraska. George was born September 27, 1928, in Hammond, Indiana, the younger of two children born to George Ira, Sr. and Marian Edith (Lindquist) Ash. He was baptized at the Kountzel Lutheran Church in Omaha in October of 1929. George attended 1st and 2nd grade at Dewey Lake rural school in Cherry County then finished elementary school at Ainsworth Public Schools, graduating from Ainsworth High School with the class of 1946.

George enlisted in the United States Air Force on October 22, 1948 at Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina. He served as a mechanic and later as a flight engineer until his retirement on December 31, 1968 at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California. He resided in Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz, California until he relocated to Alma in May of 2005.

On August 25, 1952, George was united in marriage to Charlotte Matilda Spencer in Providence, Rhode Island. Charlotte had an 8 year old son, Donald, who waited in the car as they visited the Justice of Peace, and George welcomed him with open arms to the family. George was engine mechanic in the Air Force and was able to work on any aircraft the Air Force had. He was also a panel engineer on KC-135's, which flew combat missions to Vietnam delivering supplies. He retired as a Staff Sargent in 1968 and the family moved to Santa Cruz, where they purchased the family home. After retirement, he became a fleet mechanic at George Wilson Contractors and worked for 20 more years. George came out of retirement for the second time, and opened and managed an auto repair shop alongside his son, Donald. When Charlotte's health began to fail, Donald took over as manager and George became a fulltime caretaker. Charlotte preceded him in death in 1985. Soon after, George attended his high school reunion back home in Ainsworth in 2005 and rekindled a relationship with Ruth Allison Hammond.

On December 30, 2006, George was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Ruth (Allison) Hammond in Alma. The couple purchased a travel trailer and enjoyed seeing the sights and renewing old friendships. In 2014, after George's health began to fail, he made his home at the Colonial Villa-Good Samaritan Society in Alma and later, the Grand Island Veterans Home.

George enjoyed antique cars, air planes and had a very special place in his heart for the military. But most of all, George loved his grandchildren and always enjoyed spending time with his family.

He was a member of the Air Force Retirement Association, the V.F.W. and the B.P.O. Elks Lodge in Santa Cruz and the Retired Enlisted Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Charlotte, and brother, Eldon Ash in childhood and two sisters, Elleen Hall and her husband, Robert, and Mildred Ash in infancy.

George leaves to celebrate his life: his wife, Ruth of Alma; sons: Donald Starks and his wife, Carol of Loveland, Colorado, Jerry Hammond and his wife, Tuwanna of Oxford, Nebraska and Gary "Butch" Hammond and his wife, Bonnie of Alma; 10 grandsons: Brian Starks and his wife, Sarah of Eureka, California, Dan Hammond of Omaha, Nebraska, Brent Hammond of Oxford, Heath Hammond and his wife, Kendra of Holdrege, Nebraska, Brett Hammond and his wife, Megan on Oxford, Jeret Hammond of Doniphan, Nebraska, Curtis Holtz of St. Stephens, Washingtion, Arik Hammond and his wife, Sara of Republican City, Nebraska, Jordan Hammond and his special friend, Meranda Burrows of Holdrege, and Ashton Hammond of Alma; three granddaughters: Elaine Starks of Loveland, Colorado, Ashley Hammond Smith and her husband, Jonas of Waterville, Kansas and Amber Hammond Coufal and her husband, Matthew of Malcolm, Nebraska; 23 great-grandchildren: Janae and Jorja Hammond, Kaden, Jace and Paisley Hammond, Bregan, Braxton, and Brecklyn Hammond, Jaxon and Tatum Hammond, Olivia Holtz, Tyson, Isaac, Kallie and Banks Hammond, Grace Hammond, Damon, Haley, Taya, Creighton and Isabella Smith and Hattie and Emalyn Coufal; special nieces: Christie Rogers and her husband, TK of Stapleton, Nebraska and Judy Rose of Grand Island; special nephews: Jerry Seimer and his wife, Deborah of Enterprise, Alabama, Jon Seimer and his wife, Lisa of Gothenburg, Nebraska, and Robert "Bob" Hall of McCook, Nebraska; along with many extended relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 3, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the family greeting from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma.

A memorial has been established in George's memory and kindly suggested to Peace Lutheran Church.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of the arrangements.