Carol Carver Ashley

Carol Carver Ashley was born May 12, 1929 in Hammond, Indiana. Her father died when she was one and she, along with her mother Violet and beloved brother Jim lived with her grandparents. They spent winters in Florida, and every school year was split until she entered Indiana University where she was a member, and soloist in Delta Gamma Sorority. After graduating in Library Sciences she worked for a time as a children's librarian in Hammond and selling women's gloves at Marshall Field's in Chicago.

In 1955 she left for Denver, and working in a hospital, she met an intern, John Ashley on a blind date. When he asked for a second date to a stage play, she saw his broader interests and they became a couple, marrying in 1957. He was in the Air Force, and they made several moves, and lived in Philadelphia while he finished his training, before returning to Topeka where he joined his father Byron to practice ophthalmology. They had three sons, Tom, also an ophthalmologist in Topeka, Jim, a financial adviser in Laguna Niguel, CA, and Steve, who died in 1993.

Carol was well read, and loved learning, taking many classes at Washburn in history, art history and religion. She was an active patron of the Topeka Library. She was in the Women's Auxiliary of the Medical Society, a volunteer, especially enjoying reading with elementary school children, and a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church. She played tennis, took painting classes and made miniatures, furnishing a rustic doll house that delighted her grandchildren Scott, Clayton, Haven, William, Byron and Isabel. She liked to travel, particularly to historic sites and enjoyed old movies. She was welcoming, patient and generous, and made a warm home for her family, a gracious example of a generation raised in difficult times with character and strength. Her brother passed in 1992 leaving his wife Mary, in Florida.

After John died in 2008, Carol maintained her home for a few years and moved to Brewster Place, receiving excellent care while her health declined and she passed from this realm today, Sunday, November 29, 2015.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Private inurnment will take place in Mount Hope Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, KS 66604 or to the Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4746 SW 21st St., Topeka, KS 66604.

Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel is assisting the family. To leave the family a special message, visit the guestbook below.