Ash was a family man, doctor
and friend
Dr. Gary Ash knew what it
meant to be committed to something - whether it was his practice of optometry,
family or community. "He was the most loving, giving person," said
his wife Paula Ash of Newton. "He was very much into charitable works
through the Elks and Shrine. He was a family man and he took care of his
patients." Ash, who spent most of his professional career as an
optometrist in Newton, died Friday at age 72 at Newton Medical Center. His
funeral is today.
He was a past state president
and district depot grand exalted ruler of the Elk's Organization. For the last
15 years he served as the State of Kansas' scholarship chairman for the Elk's
National Foundation.
Eight of the state
scholarship winners from Kansas went on to win national scholarships. He was a
past president of the Newton Country Club, a 32nd degree Mason and member of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
"I have known him for
years through the Elks and the VFW," said friend Don Moody. "He was
one of the charter members of the auxiliary. He was an outstanding man and did
outstanding things for the community. ... He was the kind of guy you always wanted
around. He was always ready to help his neighbors."
Gary Ash moved to Newton with
his first wife in 1958. He opened his practice and began getting involved with
the community.
He and his wife learned to
know others in town, through club memberships, bridge games and golf games.
Gary Ash was an avid, and
good golfer. He and his wife had three children. In 1992, Chlora passed away.
He later married Paula, a close friend who had moved away from Newton.
"I was a high school
guidance counselor in Osborne and he sent out packets for scholarships,"
Paula Ash said. "I called him, I asked if he was the only Gary Ash in
Newton."
The two began seeing each
other and married three years later.
He continued to work and play
golf, two things he loved.
"He played golf as a
little boy and his father played as well," Paula Ash said. "When he
was growing up in Topeka they lived a half a block away from the Shawnee
country club. He'd walk to the course and start playing on hole 16. He passed
his love of golf to his son Trent as well. Trent is working with one of my
grandsons who has an aptitude for golf. It is passed on from generation from
generation."
Gary Ash was dedicated to his
practice - Paula Ash said he literally worked until the day he died.
He worked Friday, the day he
passed away. He often responded to patient calls after hours.
"It didn't matter if
they called after hours because their glasses were broken or whatever,"
Paula Ash said. "If they called after hours they'd come here. It didn't
matter. He worked up to the day he died. He worked Friday. His patients always
came first to him."