Ronald Clive Ashline

Ronald Clive Ashline, age 89, of Oak Ridge, TN passed away peacefully in his home on February 1, 2025 surrounded by his family. Ron was born on July 17, 1935 in Huntington, Long Island, NY to the late Ivy Cowper and Eugene Joseph Ashline. Because of his father’s job with VA hospitals Ron and his family moved frequently across the country. He attended Northeastern University, Yale University, and his beloved Cornell University where he received a PhD in Chemical Engineering with a minor in mathematics.

Ron’s career took him to Allied Chemical in Morristown, NJ. While in NJ, he went to a Christian singles group. At his first gathering with the group, he met Peg and they were married on December 24, 1966. In 1971, the family, which now included his son Peter, moved to SC and Ron worked at Allied General Nuclear Services near Williston, SC. His daughter Debbie was born soon after. Ron began working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, in 1983 and the family moved there the following year.

Ron loved music and one of the highlights of his life was touring England with the Cornell University Glee Club. Ron had many hobbies he enjoyed including playing the piano and pipe organ, singing in the church choir, acrylic painting, playing canasta, and many years working on the mathematical N Body Problem. Taking and editing photos also brought him joy. Ron enjoyed many wonderful camping trips and other travel through the years. This included family cross country vacations, 18 consecutive years of camping trips to Oscar Scherer State Park in FL, numerous cruises, and several trips to Europe and the Canadian Rockies.

Ron was predeceased by his parents and his older brother Gene. Ron is survived by his spouse, Peg, his son Peter Ashline (Laura) and their children Heather and Matthew, and his daughter Debra Ashline Horn (Donnie) and their children Zoë and Megan. Ron’s grandchildren brought him much pleasure through playing cards and chess and attending their concerts and sports events. Ron will also be deeply missed by his Northeastern University classmate and special friend Ed Chambers of Florham Park, NJ.

There will be a Celebration of Life service at First United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge, on Sat. February 8 at 5pm with visitation preceding the service at 4pm. The committal of ashes in the Memorial Garden at the church will immediately follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Organ Fund at First United Methodist Church (https://fumcor.org) or a charity of your choice.

Mott-McKamey Funeral Home and Cremations is assisting the Ashline family.