James Richard Ashe, Sr., known to family and friends as Dick or Dickie, passed away at 79 years old at his home in Monroe, GA on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 1, 2026 in the Monroe Chapel of Tim Stewart Funeral Home. The family will receive friends 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM prior to the service.
Dick was born in Madison, GA to Charles Emerson Ashe and Sarah McHann Ashe. He lived with his mother and grandmother until he was 3 years old, at which time he went to live with his uncle and aunt, Doc and Lois Huff, in Chamblee, GA. He attended Chamblee High School, and in December of 1963 he enlisted in the United States Navy. He did his basic training at Great Lakes and talked about doing guard duty in several inches of snow, which a boy from Georgia had never seen. Dick spent 13 years in active duty and several more in the Naval Reserve. Dick’s job in the Navy was a photographer for Combat Camera. He traveled to many foreign countries, documenting with photos and film. On one of his leaves, Dick came home to Georgia and met his first wife, Janet Youngs, at the Varsity. Dick and Jan were married in 1966 and moved to San Diego where they started their family.
After leaving the Navy, Dick and his family moved to Charlotte, NC. Dick attended Piedmont Community College where he earned a degree and was certified as an auto mechanic. Dick then returned to Norfolk, VA and took a position with the Naval Reserve teaching the reservist. Dick ended his career with the Navy Reserve and went into a partnership in a full-service gas station. Dick and Jan were separated and in 1986 Dick came for a visit with his family, and his cousin introduced him to his current wife, Charlene. Dick moved back to Georgia and worked for DeKalb County, where he ended his career as Superintendent of Fleet Maintenance for car and pick-up trucks. Dick did not retire but took courses to become a locksmith and ran a successful business along with purchasing a delivery business, delivering printed goods for Primerica.
Dick has always been a jokester. If you ask any of his kids, they will tell you he was the king of corny dad jokes. Dick was known for his keen wit and always had a comeback. Dick loved his dogs and was once called the dog whisperer by the rescue group he adopted several of his dogs from. At one point he joked that he had 7 dogs, 7 kids and 7 cars. Dick loved camping and continued with his photography. He also enjoyed restoring old cars with his brothers.
Dick was preceded in death by his mother, Sarah Smith; his aunt and uncle, Lois and Doc Huff; half brothers, Donnie, David and Michael Smith.
Dick is survived by his wife, Charlene; children, Candace, Tina, Angela (Shane), Ricky (Shannon), and Cathy; step sons, Jeremy (Melanie) and Mitchell Jones; sister, Sondra White; half brother, Ray Smith (Dale); several grandchildren; one great granddaughter; many nieces and nephews and cousins he called brother and sisters.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donation be made in Dick’s memory to Pup & Cat Co., P.O. Box 1987, Winder, GA 30680, https://www.pupandcatco.com/donate/, or to the Disabled Veterans Association, https://dav.org.
Arrangements by Tim Stewart Funeral Home, 209 South Hammond Drive, Monroe, GA 30655. 770-267-2594. You may sign the online guest registry at www.stewartfh.com
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James Richard Ashe, Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store.
Reposted courtesy of Tim Stewart Funeral Home.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.