H. LeRoy Ashcraft, 87, of Newton, died Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at Newton Presbyterian Manor. He was born May 26, 1926 in Strong City, Kansas, the son of Willard and Ruthh Irene Orr Ashcraaft. The family would later move to Newton where LeRoy graduated from Newton High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 25, 1944. He married Clara May Cleaver January 6, 1948 in Salina. Theye returned to Newton to reside. Clara died Feruary 13, 1989.
LeRoyy worked as a yard engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad until retiring. He had also been a member of the Newton Masonic Lodge and the American Legion.
Survivors: son, Willard A. Ashcraft II of Newton; daughter, Ruthe M. Ashcraft-Starlin, of Omaha,Nebraska; brother, Richard Ashcraaft of Lawrence and two grandchildren He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, and siblings, Glenn Ashcraft; Lt. Col. Claude Reed; Norman Banmann and Carol Ashcraft.
Services were held April 18 at the Broadway Colonial Funeral home. Interment will be in the Restlawn Gardens of Memory near Newton.
