Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
Those of you following here over the last two decades have seen me occasionally write about people that have left us. There’s Frank Ott and his wife Sara. Bob Ward, Tom Powell, Dr. Steve Lotz, Steve Crandall and so many, many more.
I like to remember these people in more than just an obit form and from a personal view.
I can’t tell you when I actually learned that Ray Ashton left us. Sometime within the past couple of weeks. I think it was at lunch and someone just mentioned he’d passed away. I was floored. It had been a bit of time since I’d seen him out and about, but I do remember the last time was at the post office in Nellysford this year. He was the same Ray I’d come to know since the early 2000s.
My fondest memories of Ray are from the early days of, then, DelFosse Winery, and when we used to have the RVCC Evening Night of Jazz. Ray would be a bartender or such helping out.
He’d always say something nice every time when he ran into my son Adam right after he was born. That’s been a long time ago. And, we’d always have political discussions forever when we’d run into each other!
I guess what hits me the most about folks like Ray passing is the constant reminder that time doesn’t stand still. The people that were the backdrop here when we first arrived for good in 2004 are slowing drifting away. It’s natural and in the course of life. But, it saddens me because so many newcomers will never know them and how wonderful they were. What a contribution and foundation they set here in Nelson.
There’s no detailed obituary online, but here’s a reference where memories can be posted.
Ray you join a unique club now that preceded you. Tell them we all say howdy!
See you on the other side my friend.
