Laurence T. Ashton

Born Feb. 28, 1942, to John and Mary Ashton in Iowa City, Iowa, Larry died Jan. 3, 2013, at his home in Orange, Calif.

Larry graduated from West Liberty High School where he played football and was active in speech and drama. He attended Wayne State Teachers College in Wayne, Neb., and served in the Iowa Army National Guard as a medic. On Feb. 16, 1964, Larry married his high school sweetheart, Linda Ashby in West Liberty, Iowa.

Larry was president and CEO of Security S&L in Marion. In 1979, Larry and Linda moved their family to Villa Park, Calif., where he worked for Subsidiary Mortgage Co. In 1981, Larry opened his own mortgage company.

He was a member of Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club in Marion, and various business groups in Orange County, Calif. Larry enjoyed boating, telling great stories, reading about Lincoln and he had a great sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; son, Kip Ashton [Stefanie], Yorba Linda, Calif.; daughter, Kim Ashton, Irvine, Calif.; sister, Sylvia Seymour, Davenport; grandchildren, Shayne Walker, Hunter Walker, Sydney Ashton and Zachary Ashton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary; father, John; sister, Gwen; half brother, Ed; and half sisters, Norma and Janet.

Larry donated his body to UCI for medical research and he will be remembered at a memorial service at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Villa, 510 E. Katella Ave., Orange, CA.

Published in The Gazette Jan. 8, 2013.