William Edward Ash

William Edward Ash of The Villages, Florida passed away on October 15, 2026 at the age of 92, 8 days shy of his birthday. Bill was born on October 23, 1933 in Crawford County, Indiana where he grew up.

A member of the Armed forces, William was a Sergeant in the Army serving in Fairbanks, Alaska at Fort Wainwright in the HQ Tactical Air Defense Artillery group during the Korean war. He received medals and commendation for Sharpshooting and Good Conduct.

He started school in a one room schoolhouse before graduating from Huntingburg HS and then Hanover College with a BA in Mathematics, and a Master of Arts in Teaching and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He was a Shell Merit Fellow at Cornell University, with continuing education at Butler University, Florida State University and several others.

He worked as an early adopter and pioneer of computer science in education and taught Jr. And Sr. High school in Greencastle, Indiana before becoming a college professor of Mathematics and Physics at Hanover College, Purdue University, Ball State University, Culver-Stockton College, Richmond CC, and Elgin CC. He was an academic administrator at Ball State at Grissom Air Force Base, Culver-Stockton, Richland and Elgin before becoming Academic Vice-President for Academic Affairs at the State University of New York Agricultural and Technical College at Alfred University in Alfred, NY.

In his early life, he worked in factories, construction, and was a Minor League pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. He participated on stage in theatre productions and was a member of The Villages Off Broadway Theater Group. He was an avid reader and writer, having been published in professional mathematics publications and for his poetry. Bill loved golf and was a golfer most of his adult life. He was proud to have shot his age 401 times before hanging up his clubs at 91 years young.

He was preceded in death by parents Lois and Lloyd Ash and sister Carolyn Ash Bartelt by one week.

He is survived by sons Kevin (Laurel) and Jeffery (Erin) Ash, grandchildren Logan (Natalie), Madeleine, Hannah, Blake, Kameron, and Kianna Ash, Austin (Zoe), Anna, and Evan Ruff; sister Dorothy Ash Survant, brother Joe (Jean) Ash, and sister Sue (David) McKain.

The funeral will take place at New Albany National Cemetery, (1943 Ekin Avenue, New Albany, Indiana 47150) at 1:30 PM on October 29th.