In Memoriam: Melvin S. Ashwill ’48

Melvin “Mel” Ashwill ’48 died Sept. 24, 2020, at age 98. Born in Williston, N.D., his family moved to Madras, Ore., during the Great Depression. He attended Pacific Junior College for two years, then worked at Boeing and later with the Army Corp of Engineers in Alaska. He returned home and married his college sweetheart, Betty Vasey, in 1942. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served in England, France, Belgium, and Germany as a weather observer during World War II. After the war, he studied music education at Pacific University and taught music for many years before retiring from Warm Springs Elementary School near Madras. After his retirement, he devoted time to becoming an expert paleobotanist and enjoyed painting and drawing. He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Anna Ashwill; siblings Alice Ashwill Brown, Edith Ashwill Dresseland, Jerry Ashwill and Walter Ashwill; wife Betty; and son David. He is survived by his children, Forest Ashwill, Beverly Ashwill and Leslie Ashwill Wilson; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.