Francis (Frank) X. Ashland Jr.

Francis (Frank) X. Ashland Jr. of South Windsor, CT, passed away on January 07, 2025 at the age of 92. Born in Springfield, MA on November 26, 1932, he was the son of Francis X. Sr. and Catherine (McWhirter) Ashland. Frank grew up on a farm in the Thompsonville section of Enfield, CT. Like many Scottish immigrants in Enfield, members of his family worked in the nearby Bigelow carpet mills. Having lived through the Great Depression and WWII, Frank learned the value of hard work and frugality. Even as a boy, he worked odd jobs to put food on the family table. Frank became an excellent mechanic working at a local garage. This became a hobby and passion that would last his whole life. During the Korean War, he served at Westover Air Force base in Chicopee, MA. After the war, he graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in engineering. Later, while studying at the University of Hartford he would meet his wife, Theresa. Frank went on to work as an engineer at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. They started a family and eventually settled in a brand new home in South Windsor.

Frank was a quiet-spoken man. You really had to pay attention to notice his dry, Scottish wit. He was a terrific marksman, winning various sharpshooter medals as a young man and later competing in the Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Club Pistol League. He prided himself on being self-reliant. He could fix or build anything. Woodworking, electronics or mechanical repairs, he did it all. He even built his own televisions and stereos. He cared for his own lawn and did his own home repairs well into his 80’s. When you stopped by, you might find him under his car pulling out a transmission, or climbing 40 feet up a tree to trim a branch. When his children wanted a pool, he bought a kit from Sears and built it. When they wanted to see the National Parks, he built a custom camper van and drove the whole family cross-country. In his later years he loved attending car shows and going to tag sales with his wife. He also enjoyed reading books and watching documentaries about WWII. Looking back, it is apparent that much of what Frank did in life was done to help others or just to make someone happy. 

Frank is survived by his wife of 64 years, Theresa, his son Francis Xavier III and daughter-in-law Kathy of LaFargeville, NY and son Keith and his wife Katerina of Coventry, CT. Frank had 3 granddaughters, April, Danielle and Paisley as well as 4 great grandchildren Diana, Aiden, Zander and Brandon. He is also survived by his sister Agnes Zelus and brother-in-law Bruce of Redondo Beach California, their children Bruce, Brian and Elizabeth (Liz) as well as his niece Cheryl Conrad.

Frank was predeceased by his two brothers, William (Billy) Ashland, Jeremiah (Jerry) Ashland, and his niece Pamela (Pam) Baker.

The family wants to express its gratitude to Frank’s aide Diane Lessard. She brought him a lot of joy during the final months of his life. 

A Catholic mass will be held in his honor at the Saint Francis of Assisi church in South Windsor on February 1st at 10:00 am. A military funeral will be held at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Middletown, CT in the spring. We will reach out with the date and time for the funeral as soon as the arrangements are finalized.