Kenneth “Kenny” Ray Ashcraft Sr., 92, Kokomo, and formerly Greentown, became absent from his body and present with the Lord at 1:28 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.
He was born May 3, 1932, to the late Roy Ovid and Esther Leota (Pribble) Ashcraft in Newberry, Indiana.
Kenny believed that while a birth date and death date define a life span, the dash in the middle defines a life. Kenny graduated from Scotland High School in 1951, and served for two years in the army, from 1953-54, on a base in Germany as a Corporal Tank Commander, where he met the love of his life, Hilda, marrying her on Sept. 29, 1954. He returned to the United States with his new bride and began his civilian life. He worked for Continental Steel for 35 years as a Ladle Man, and held many side jobs. He also was a lifetime member of the VFW post 1152 Military Rites team. He helped raise four children, Kerry, Ray, Laura and Scott, as well as housing numerous exchange students. Kenny and Hilda built a home in the ’70s that has been a memory-maker for multiple generations. Activities enjoyed by Kenny included membership of the Greentown Lions Club, the Moose Lodge in Kokomo and being a Howard County Veteran’s Service Officer for 10 years. He and his family attended Sycamore Friends Church.
As Kenny and Hilda aged, they traveled — Russia, China, Europe, New Zealand and cruises to exotic locations with friends and family to name a few destinations. Being Snowbirds, they spent many winters in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Preceding him in death is his wife, Hilda Ashcraft, his parents, Roy and Esther Ashcraft; his daughter-in-law, Pam Ashcraft; as well as 10 siblings.
He is survived by his brothers, Robert, Bud and Jim Ashcraft; his children, Kerry Ashcraft, Michigan, Kenneth Ray Ashcraft Jr., Port St. Lucie, Florida, Laura (Doug) Beachy, Greentown, Indiana, and Scott (Bethany) Ashcraft, Crestwood, Kentucky. Surviving grandchildren are Kisha Pulverenti, Fort Wayne, Jeremy (Rachael) Ashcraft, Gig Harbor, Washington, Lana (Tommy) Rubow, Greentown, Ada (Jeremy) Hullinger, Greentown, Kara Riley, Greentown, Tamara (Jessie Branch) Beachy, Greentown, Sean Ashcraft, Muncie, Ian (Jessica) Beachy, Greentown, Lee Beachy, Greentown, Jared (Morgan) Ashcraft, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Caylem (Sydney) Ashcraft, Savannah, Georgia. Kenny has 16 great-grandchildren and numerous surviving nieces and nephews around the world.
While the things of this world can be enjoyed, they are temporary. Kenny had hope in Christ. He was saved by the grace of God through faith in what Christ completed on the cross. His death, burial and resurrection conquered sin and the grave. At the time of Kenny’s salvation, he was complete, accepted by the Beloved and reconciled to God, all through Christ. We can find comfort knowing that he was and is at peace with God.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations are made in Kenny’s honor to VFW post 1152 Military Rites team. Donations can be given or sent to Shirley and Stout Funeral Home or to the Military Rites team at 920 N. Washington St., Kokomo, IN 46901.
Friends are invited to celebrate the life of Kenny and visit with the family from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, in Kokomo. A funeral service will be held at noon on Friday at the funeral home, with Pastor David Ball officiating. Entombment will follow at Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery, with military honors provided by the United States Army and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolences and memories may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.
He was born May 3, 1932, to the late Roy Ovid and Esther Leota (Pribble) Ashcraft in Newberry, Indiana.
Kenny believed that while a birth date and death date define a life span, the dash in the middle defines a life. Kenny graduated from Scotland High School in 1951, and served for two years in the army, from 1953-54, on a base in Germany as a Corporal Tank Commander, where he met the love of his life, Hilda, marrying her on Sept. 29, 1954. He returned to the United States with his new bride and began his civilian life. He worked for Continental Steel for 35 years as a Ladle Man, and held many side jobs. He also was a lifetime member of the VFW post 1152 Military Rites team. He helped raise four children, Kerry, Ray, Laura and Scott, as well as housing numerous exchange students. Kenny and Hilda built a home in the ’70s that has been a memory-maker for multiple generations. Activities enjoyed by Kenny included membership of the Greentown Lions Club, the Moose Lodge in Kokomo and being a Howard County Veteran’s Service Officer for 10 years. He and his family attended Sycamore Friends Church.
As Kenny and Hilda aged, they traveled — Russia, China, Europe, New Zealand and cruises to exotic locations with friends and family to name a few destinations. Being Snowbirds, they spent many winters in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Preceding him in death is his wife, Hilda Ashcraft, his parents, Roy and Esther Ashcraft; his daughter-in-law, Pam Ashcraft; as well as 10 siblings.
He is survived by his brothers, Robert, Bud and Jim Ashcraft; his children, Kerry Ashcraft, Michigan, Kenneth Ray Ashcraft Jr., Port St. Lucie, Florida, Laura (Doug) Beachy, Greentown, Indiana, and Scott (Bethany) Ashcraft, Crestwood, Kentucky. Surviving grandchildren are Kisha Pulverenti, Fort Wayne, Jeremy (Rachael) Ashcraft, Gig Harbor, Washington, Lana (Tommy) Rubow, Greentown, Ada (Jeremy) Hullinger, Greentown, Kara Riley, Greentown, Tamara (Jessie Branch) Beachy, Greentown, Sean Ashcraft, Muncie, Ian (Jessica) Beachy, Greentown, Lee Beachy, Greentown, Jared (Morgan) Ashcraft, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Caylem (Sydney) Ashcraft, Savannah, Georgia. Kenny has 16 great-grandchildren and numerous surviving nieces and nephews around the world.
While the things of this world can be enjoyed, they are temporary. Kenny had hope in Christ. He was saved by the grace of God through faith in what Christ completed on the cross. His death, burial and resurrection conquered sin and the grave. At the time of Kenny’s salvation, he was complete, accepted by the Beloved and reconciled to God, all through Christ. We can find comfort knowing that he was and is at peace with God.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations are made in Kenny’s honor to VFW post 1152 Military Rites team. Donations can be given or sent to Shirley and Stout Funeral Home or to the Military Rites team at 920 N. Washington St., Kokomo, IN 46901.
Friends are invited to celebrate the life of Kenny and visit with the family from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory, 1315 W. Lincoln Road, in Kokomo. A funeral service will be held at noon on Friday at the funeral home, with Pastor David Ball officiating. Entombment will follow at Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery, with military honors provided by the United States Army and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Shirley & Stout Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Messages of condolences and memories may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.
