Funeral services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at Roane County High School for twenty-four-year-old Machinist's Mate Joseph Ashley, who was serving on the USS San Francisco when the nuclear submarine struck an undersea mountain last Friday, 350 miles from its home port in Guam.
The Rev. Michael F. King will officiate with military honors at the Fox Cemetery near Reedy. Visitation will be in the high school auditorium from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Local arrangements are under the direction of the John H. Taylor Funeral Home.
JOSEPH ALLEN ASHLEY
Joseph Allen Ashley, Machinist Mate 2nd Class (U.S.N.), a lifelong resident of
Manchester, Ohio, whet home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 9, at the age of 24.
Joey died as a result of severe head injuries he sustained when the nuclear submarine
U.S.S. San Francisco, home-based in Guam, ran aground while out on maneuvers in the South
Pacific.
He leaves parents, Daniel and Vicki Ashley of Manchester; brothers, Daniel, Jr. (Dawn) of
Canal Fulton, Ohio; PFC Benjamin (Kati) of Fort Bragg, North Carolina; grandparents, Joseph
Jr. and Helen Ashley of Reedy, West Virginia, Rev. Dallas and Ellen Smith of Harrisville,
West Virginia; aunts and uncles, Linda June (Ashley) Fleisher of Akron, Ohio, Les (Debbie)
Ashley of Doylestown, Ohio, Jim (Lyneen) Ashley of Reedy, West Virginia, Dallas, Jr. (Teri)
Smith of Rossville, Georgia, Alfred (Kathy) Smith of Mason, Ohio, and Aaron (Barb) Smith of
Manchester.
He also leaves many close and loving cousins, shipmates and friends.
Joey was a 1999 graduate of Manchester High School, where he was a member of the marching
band and was also a member of Boy Scout Troop 118. After graduation he chose to follow his
father's footsteps and joined the Navy in 2001.
He was also a member of both the Canal
Fulton Baptist Church and the Akron Baptist Temple and frequented many other churches in the
area. Wherever he was based, he found a church to attend. Joey never met a stranger. His
personality captured and affected each of us in its own way, and his memory will remain in
our hearts forever.
Joey was loved by all who knew him and we are all blessed to have had
him in our lives, even for such a short time.
Dan and Vicki and family would like to thank everyone for their overwhelming outpouring of
love, support and prayers during this very difficult time.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 15 at 8:00 p.m. at the Akron Baptist
Temple, 2324 Manchester Rd., Manchester, with Pastors George Stitz and Dallas Billington
officiating.
Visitation there will be from 2-7:30 p.m. Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Joseph Ashley Memorial Scholarship in care of
Manchester High School, 437 W. Nimisila Rd., Akron, Ohio 44319.
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