1915
Dr.
2006
Dr. Robert Ashley Jr.
April 15, 1915 — November 22, 2006
Dr. Robert Paul Ashley Jr. died peacefully on November 22, 2006, after complications from a stroke. He was a beloved father, husband, teacher, tennis player, dog lover, mystery reader and friend.
Born in Baltimore, MD to Ethel Rice and Robert Paul Ashley on April 15, 1915, Dr. Ashley grew up in the Boston suburbs. He attended and graduated cum laude from Bowdoin College ME in 1936 and was inducted into the national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. He married Virginia Woods of Boston in July 1939 and completed his PHD in English Literature at Harvard University in 1948, after serving in the US Navy in Guam in World War II and went on to become a Colonel in the US Army. Dr. Ashley’s teaching career took him to Colby Junior College in Maine, Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, West Point Military Academy in New York, and finally to Ripon College, where he served as Dean of the College from 1955 to 1975, and was the William Harley Barber Distinguished Professor of English Literature from 1974 to 1978. He taught in Ripon’s Department of English until his retirement in 1982. Dr. Ashley was an authority on the English Victorian novel. He published an anthology of Elizabethan Fiction, and authoritative biography of Wilkie Collins, who was known as the first English mystery writer, and anthology of Collins’ short stories. He was also a scholar of the United States Civil War, contributing many articles to Civil War journals, editing an Anthology of Civil War Poetry and even writing two Civil War adventure novels for teenagers: “The Stolen Train” and “Rebel Raiders”. After he retired from Ripon College, Dr. Ashley led mystery fiction/play readings, and taught at the Green Lake Elder Hostel. He lectured statewide on the history of the mystery novel, occasionally dressing up as Sherlock Holmes. Some of Dr. Ashley’s other published works include: “Faulkner at West Point” (co-editor) “The Bible as Literature” with The Rev. Jerry Thompson, and “A History of Ripon College,” with Ripon’s Professor George Miller. Besides Dr. Ashley’s academic achievements, he also served as Ripon College’s tennis coach from 1956 to 1964, leading his team to Midwest Conference championship their last season. He continued to play tennis into his 89th year. He received an Honorary Degree from Ripon College for his contributions in scholarship, athletics, and Ripon College History.
He is survived by the following family members, children: V. June Hager of Washington D.C., Diane Woods Ashley of Eastham, MA, Cynthia Ashley of Oakland, CA, Robert P. Ashley III of Madison, WI; and Jacquelyn S. Ashley of Jamestown, CO, grandchildren: Ashley Hager and Kristen Brooks of San Francisco, CA, Tariq Hager of Prague, Czech Republic, Bronwen Per-Lee of Philadelphia, PA, Owain Per-Lee of Oakland, CA, and Sophie M. Ashley of San Francisco, CA. Great-grandchildren: Mateo Hager and Elias Hager of Prague, Czech Republic, Sebastian Alexander Brooks of San Francisco, CA. He is also survived by sons-in-law: L. Michael Hager, and Michael McGee, and grandchildren-in-law: Julian Brooks, and Katerina Hager and his beloved dog Pip. Dr. Ashley was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Virginia Woods Ashley, and one brother, Donn Ashley.
A Memorial Service for: Dr. Robert P. Ashley Jr. will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Ripon College. Inurnment will take place in Cedarville Cemetery, East Sandwich, MA.
Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com
Born in Baltimore, MD to Ethel Rice and Robert Paul Ashley on April 15, 1915, Dr. Ashley grew up in the Boston suburbs. He attended and graduated cum laude from Bowdoin College ME in 1936 and was inducted into the national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. He married Virginia Woods of Boston in July 1939 and completed his PHD in English Literature at Harvard University in 1948, after serving in the US Navy in Guam in World War II and went on to become a Colonel in the US Army. Dr. Ashley’s teaching career took him to Colby Junior College in Maine, Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, West Point Military Academy in New York, and finally to Ripon College, where he served as Dean of the College from 1955 to 1975, and was the William Harley Barber Distinguished Professor of English Literature from 1974 to 1978. He taught in Ripon’s Department of English until his retirement in 1982. Dr. Ashley was an authority on the English Victorian novel. He published an anthology of Elizabethan Fiction, and authoritative biography of Wilkie Collins, who was known as the first English mystery writer, and anthology of Collins’ short stories. He was also a scholar of the United States Civil War, contributing many articles to Civil War journals, editing an Anthology of Civil War Poetry and even writing two Civil War adventure novels for teenagers: “The Stolen Train” and “Rebel Raiders”. After he retired from Ripon College, Dr. Ashley led mystery fiction/play readings, and taught at the Green Lake Elder Hostel. He lectured statewide on the history of the mystery novel, occasionally dressing up as Sherlock Holmes. Some of Dr. Ashley’s other published works include: “Faulkner at West Point” (co-editor) “The Bible as Literature” with The Rev. Jerry Thompson, and “A History of Ripon College,” with Ripon’s Professor George Miller. Besides Dr. Ashley’s academic achievements, he also served as Ripon College’s tennis coach from 1956 to 1964, leading his team to Midwest Conference championship their last season. He continued to play tennis into his 89th year. He received an Honorary Degree from Ripon College for his contributions in scholarship, athletics, and Ripon College History.
He is survived by the following family members, children: V. June Hager of Washington D.C., Diane Woods Ashley of Eastham, MA, Cynthia Ashley of Oakland, CA, Robert P. Ashley III of Madison, WI; and Jacquelyn S. Ashley of Jamestown, CO, grandchildren: Ashley Hager and Kristen Brooks of San Francisco, CA, Tariq Hager of Prague, Czech Republic, Bronwen Per-Lee of Philadelphia, PA, Owain Per-Lee of Oakland, CA, and Sophie M. Ashley of San Francisco, CA. Great-grandchildren: Mateo Hager and Elias Hager of Prague, Czech Republic, Sebastian Alexander Brooks of San Francisco, CA. He is also survived by sons-in-law: L. Michael Hager, and Michael McGee, and grandchildren-in-law: Julian Brooks, and Katerina Hager and his beloved dog Pip. Dr. Ashley was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Virginia Woods Ashley, and one brother, Donn Ashley.
A Memorial Service for: Dr. Robert P. Ashley Jr. will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at Ripon College. Inurnment will take place in Cedarville Cemetery, East Sandwich, MA.
Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com
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