Thomas Emory Ashlock

1929 - 2010

Thomas Emory Ashlock 1929 - 2010 Thomas Emory Ashlock, born July 24, to Evan Earl (EE) and Mary Eloise Ashlock in St. Louis, MO, passed away January 3, 2010. As a schoolboy Tom was able to experience a colorful world living in the jungles of Panama, the wild west of Alcova, Wyoming, and Honolulu, Hawaii. The EE Ashlock family moved to Corona, California following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Corona was considered Tom's hometown as he soon met his future bride Virginia (GG) Kelley Jewell and graduated from Corona High School class of 1947. Tom started his college education at USC where he majored in civil engineering and was a member of Sigma Phi Delta fraternity. In 1950, he was called into active duty in the Navy Seabees and served in the Aleutian Islands. In 1952, Tom returned to school attending Cal Berkeley. On December 27, 1952 Tom and GG Jewell were married, and thereafter lived in Berkeley until Tom graduated in 1954. Daughter Jennifer was born in February 1954 in Corona. Upon gradation from Cal, Tom received NROTC commission in the USMC. The young Ashlock family moved to Virginia as Tom was stationed at Camp Lejeune and Marine Corp Headquarters. Son Timothy was born in Bethesda, Maryland in November 1956. The Ashlock family returned to California as Tom was discharged from active duty in 1957. At this time he joined the Marine Corp Reserves. Starting his professional career, Tom was employed by the California Bridge Department in Sacramento. Tom worked as a designer on his landmark bridge, the Willow Creek Bridge located on Highway 1 along the South Big Sur coast. Son Theodore was born in March 1960. Tom later worked on the Sepulveda Pass, the Century Boulevard overpass, and other freeway construction in Los Angeles for Griffith Company. In 1964 the Ashlocks moved to Bakersfield. The focus of Tom's civil engineering career changed from freeway/bridge construction to the state aqueduct construction and the ancillary water delivery systems. Tom worked on the development of the Arvin/Edison, Belridge, Berrenda Mesa and Lost Hills Water Districts. Daughter Darcy was born in Bakersfield in March 1968. Tom retired from the Marine Corp Reserves in 1973 as Major, and had served as Commanding Officer of the Bakersfield Marine Corp Reserves during parts of the Vietnam Conflict. Tom later helped form the Kern/Tulare Water District, which he managed along with the Rag Gulch Water District until his retirement. Tom and GG retired to Cambria in 1993. They have since enjoyed traveling the world, and return every February to Cabo San Lucas highlighted with the return of the grey whales. Tom is survived by sister Marion Bradshaw, and wife of 57 years GG, sons Tim and Ted (Kathleen), daughters Jenny (Joe) and Darcy (Salvador), grandchildren Shane, Caitlin, Laci and Tommy, and many nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law. Tom also has an extensive network of close friends in Mexico, friends the Houghton family, friends from Bakersfield and Corona, and friends from his professional and military careers. Tom was honorable and loving man, who had the bark of a Marine, and a heart of a puppy. Tom and GG are of faith, and love attending the quaint Bethel Lutheran Church in Templeton. In lieu of flowers the family would ask that gifts be made to Bethel Lutheran Church, Toys for Tots, or the charity of your choice. A Memorial Service will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church in Templeton, California on January 16 at 11:00 a.m.