Hilton Ray Ashby was born in Russellville, Kentucky on June 27, 1931 to Grace Hudson Ashby and the Reverend Herbert Troutman Ashby. Hilton grew up on a farm in Lewisburg where he worked hard from an early age, tasked with responsibility for milking the cows each morning from the age of six.
A lifelong UK fan, Hilton was a basketball standout at Lewisburg High school. He loved to tell the story of the Rangers making it to the Regional finals only for the whole team to become sick with the Mumps – but they played on! Hilton’s basketball skill stayed with him as evidenced by the many games of Horse he won against his sons and grandsons over the years. He was also usually a finalist in the family cornhole tournaments.
Hilton served his country with a distinguished 20 year career in the US Air Force. While stationed in New York, Hilton met the love of his life and wife of 67 years, the beautiful and vivacious Miss Lillian Wessell.
Hilton and Lillian lived an adventurous life, living in many states across the country and overseas in Izmir Turkey and Oxfordshire England, where they made lifelong friendships. They never missed an opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of foreign lands- from the horse races at Ascot in England, to the beaches of Greece to attending sunrise Easter services in the ancient amphitheater of Ephesus. Lillian and Hilton embraced life’s rich pageant and shared it with their children.
Hilton worked in cryptography at a NATO base in Izmir before he retired from the Air Force in 1972. He and Lillian moved to Russellville, Kentucky, where Hilton began a second career for over thirty years as sales manager for WRUS, KQ 101 and WBVR radio. Hilton was both a good listener and a great storyteller, which made him great at sales and shine at parties and family celebrations.
He had many brave adventure stories from his childhood that his grandkids loved to hear, such as hitchhiking across the country at seventeen to work the wheat harvest in Texas and being dragged by horses after falling beneath a hay wagon on the family farm in Lewisburg. The near-death accident severely broke his femur, which cost him his basketball scholarship at Murray State.
A natural athlete, Hilton enjoyed golf and even got to play at the famous Saint Andrews course on a memorable trip to Scotland. Hilton and Lillian both loved the white sand beaches of Destin Florida and enjoyed many holidays in the sunshine with family and friends at their condo there.
For over fifty years Hilton was a member of First Baptist Church in Russellville where he served as a deacon. His favorite scripture was Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.” The family is comforted knowing that Hilton’s soul is once again united with his loving wife Lillian, and that his spirit is everlasting through his savior Jesus Christ.
Hilton was a devoted father to his sons Jeffrey Ashby (Mary) and David Ashby; daughter Kelley Ashby Paul (Rand); and grandfather to Kyle Ashby (Evie), William Paul, Matt Ashby (Devin), Turner Ashby, Duncan Paul (Kate); Ryan Ashby (Sarah) Tatum Lowry (Mark); Robert Paul (Xuecheun); Hilton Ashby and Jeffrey Ashby; as well as ten beautiful great-grandchildren. Hilton is also survived by his beloved sister and brother, Jo Ann Kurvin (Bob) and Fred Ashby (Betty).
Visitation will be Wednesday April 24, 2024 from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM and Thursday April 25, 2024 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 AM at the J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel. Burial will be in the Bowling Green Gardens.
