Joseph Ashton

Joseph B. Ashton, age 83, of Plano, Texas passed away on December 6, 2013. Joe was born on September 17, 1930 in Brownwood, Texas to Joseph and Pauline (Craig) Ashton. He married Cleone Singleton on May 7, 1960 in Austin, Texas. Joe received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Math from Texas Tech University in 1952. He was in Army ROTC and proudly served with the Corp of Engineers in France and Germany from 1952 to 1954 and was in the Army Reserve until 1960, attaining the rank of Captain.
After Joe's tour of duty he returned to Texas where he obtained his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Texas. He was the recipient of a Research Grant from The Robert A. Welch Foundation. Additionally, while at the University of Texas, Joe was a member of Alpha Sigma Honorary Fraternity and The Society of Sigma.
Joe worked for Shell Chemical / Shell Oil USA for 30 years. He worked in New York, California and Texas throughout his career. During his years with Shell, he was a research chemist, plant manager, forecaster, and Executive Director of Shell's Elastomer Business Center. Joe was also involved in computerizing Shell's Oil Refineries and Chemical Plants. After retirement Joe and Cleone lived in Lakeway, Texas, Barton Creek Estates in Austin, Texas and in Plano, Texas.
Joe's greatest passion was studying and growing in God's Word and then sharing its messages with others. He especially enjoyed the various Men's Bible Studies in which he participated. Joe was never happier than when in the field as a lay-missionary. He shared the Gospel during several mission trips to Mexico and Venezuela, helped with church revival in Yorkshire, England and spent a summer in China working with youth as he practiced lifestyle evangelism.
Joe has served the church in various ways throughout the years. He has served as a Deacon, Elder, Chairman of the Budget Committee, Director of Alpha, Chairman of the Evangelism Committee and Sunday school teacher. Joe worked with International Students from the University of Texas and with children from the east side of Austin in a Sunday Evening Program.
Joe is survived by his wife of 53 years, Cleone Ashton, one daughter Beverly Boro and her husband Bob, one son David Ashton and his wife Judy, one granddaughter Katelyn Ashton, his brother Bruce Ashton, five nephews and one niece.
A memorial service will be held to honor Joe's life at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Prestonwood Baptist Church, 6801 W. Park Blvd., Plano, Texas 75093. The family requests memorials be made to Lottie Moon Foundation, www.imb.org/lottiemoon/ or The Presbyterian Children's Home in Austin, Texas, http://texas.pchas.org/donate/