David Edwin Ashcom

1947 - 2024

David Edwin Ashcom

October 3, 1947 - June 30, 2024

David Edwin Ashcom passed away after a long battle with heart failure on Sunday afternoon, June 30, 2024, surrounded by his family at Martha Jefferson Hospital.

David was born to Robert C. and Mary L. Ashcom in Ivy, Va. on October 3, 1947. As a young child, David discovered his love and rare instinct for working with horses, spending most of his time riding on local horse farms, including Grover Vandevender and William Faulkner. The latter was rumored to have rendered a likeness of David in the character of Lucius Priest in his last novel The Reivers. David spent many years training horses with Felix Neusch who he often referred to as his second father. David attributed much of his knowledge of horsemanship to Felix.

David graduated from Blue Ridge School. He enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War and served for 4 years on the USS Joseph Strauss.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he followed his passion for horses, settling in Hawaii where he worked as a cowboy on Parker Ranch, one of the oldest and largest ranches in the US. During this period, he married his first wife Rose Mae, competed in calf roping as a heeler, and learned how to shoe horses.

Upon returning to Virginia, he worked at Southern States where he reconnected with Ginger, who he had met in Vandevender's barn in their youth and fell in love. David decided to pursue a career as a farrier, attending school in Martinsville, Va. to get certification. With Ginger's help to grow his business, he quickly became one of Albemarle County's most sought-after farriers.

Lifelong horseman, skilled in breeding and training hunter/jumpers, he was a farrier by day and built and operated Spring Mountain Farm in his free time. There David and Ginger bred many high performing hunter/jumpers including Rudeen, Ocracoke, Outer Banks, Dare County, and Kill Devil Hills, some of which were Virginia state, and regional champions. David was very involved with the local equestrian community as a longtime member of the Farmington Hunt Club, serving on the board of governors. He also was a lifetime member of the Virginia Horse Shows Association and American Horse Shows Association.

When his children came of school age, David was among a group of parents that built the Free Union Country School. He served on the board of trustees for many years and presided as president for a time.

Although his later years were marked by significant health challenges, he made time for reflection and peace in his favorite place, a grove of persimmon trees on a nearby hilltop. David never lost his love for horses and farming. Confined to a wheelchair, he still found a way onto his tractor to bushhog fields and even riding his pony, Storm, from time to time. His will to live and love for his family brought him through many health crises, cheating death for nearly two decades.

David leaves behind his wife Virginia (Ginger) Ashcom; two sons, David married to Emily, Morgan married to Nachel; two grandsons, Lincoln and Zoravar; and older brother, Robert married to Susan, and many other loved ones.

Family and friends are invited to attend a funeral service to be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 12th at Saint Paul's, Ivy.

Condolences may be shared with his family at www.hillandwood.com.