Robert Wendell “Bob” Ashby, age 85, passed away Saturday, September 7, 2013 in Delta. He was born March 6, 1928 in Abraham, UT, to Clifford and Alice Lucille Shields Ashby. Bob was raised in Sugarville, UT. He attended elementary school in Sutherland, and high school in Delta. During high school, he was the Southern Utah Amateur Middleweight Boxing Champion. After high school, he joined the Navy and served on the USS Colahan, a fletcher-class destroyer. While he served in the Navy, he married Joyce Church in Anaheim, CA on December 4, 1948.
Bob and Joyce returned to Delta, where he worked at various jobs. Bob worked as a farmer, a truck driver for American Oil, and finally worked 20 years at Brush-Wellman, where he retired. During his working years, Bob was very skilled as a horse shoer, and trained many horses. He was a horse whisperer before there were horse whisperers.
At the age of 45, he found a new hobby, Golf. Over the years, he achieved 5 hole-in-one awards. He loved golfing and spent countless hours at the golf course. Many people have great memories golfing with Bob. Bob enjoyed deer hunting and camping with his family. As Bob aged, and was restricted from doing the things he loved, he and Joyce enjoyed going for long drives in the area and visiting with family and friends.
He is survived by his wife: Joyce, Delta; children: Bill (Ann), Delta; Julie (DeeJay) Finlinson, Oak City; Nancy Niemann, Kanab; Karen (Zac) Frampton, Payson; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; brother: Wilford (Ella), Ely, NV; sister: LaVonne Palmer, Salt Lake; brother-in-law: D.M. Oliver, Scottsdale, AZ; Colleen Ashby, Virginia Ashby, Ely, NV; Alice Ashby, Mansfield, TX; Gary (Annaly) Church, Delta; Ken (JaVene) Porter, Delta; numerous nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents; brothers: Louis, Roger, Ross; sister: JeaVene; daughter: Bobbie; grandson: Jesse.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 11:00 AM in the Delta LDS Stake Center 125 S. White Sage Ave. Viewings will be held Tuesday evening, 7-8 PM at the Nickle Mortuary; and Wednesday morning at the church, 9:30-10:40 AM. Burial in the Delta City Cemetery.