My Papa's Obituary

Cecil Grant Ash
Cecil Grant Ash 1922 ~ 2007 Cecil Grant Ash died in Provo, Utah on May 18, 2007. He was born November 27, 1922, the eldest child of Cecil L. Ash and Alta May Bateman of Lehi, Utah. His sister Yvonne (Russell) Webb lives in Mesa, Arizona and his brother Donald B. (Elaine) Ash resides in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He was raised in Lehi where he graduated from Lehi High School. He first went to college in Logan on a football scholarship. He volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942 and became a bombardier and gunnery officer in the crew of a B-24 bomber and flew combat missions for the 15th Air Force from Southern Italy. His airplane was shot down near Vienna, Austria in May 1944. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and was in their control until being liberated by General Patton in May 1945. He obtained a BS degree from BYU and an MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin. Grant married Zola Rae Law in the Salt Lake Temple on Dec. 19, 1946. They were the parents of four children, Terry Kay (Billy) Moore, Spotsylvania, VA; Allyn (Rand) Smart, Hurricane, UT; Dayle G. (Karen) Ash, Colorado Springs, CO; and Cozanne (Raymond) Layton, Ankeny, IA. They have 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Dr. Ash had an active career as a research scientist for the U.S. Army where his specialties were as an expert in chemical, biological and radiological warfare and in the analysis of environmental effects from engineering construction. He received numerous awards, honors and promotions. He started at Dugway Proving Grounds where he eventually became the Director of Research. He moved to Washington D.C. where he became the Director of Research for the Army Research and Development Command. Later he came back to Utah as the Chief Scientist for the Desert Test Center at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City. Then he went back to Washington D.C. as Head of Environmental Research and Analysis for the Army Corps of Engineers. He was very active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a teacher, Scout Master, Bishop, High Councilman, High Priest Group Leader, Temple Ordinance Worker in Washington D.C. and Provo Temples. He was also an active genealogist. Funeral Services will be held Sat., May 26, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. in the Stadium Chapel at 650 East Stadium Avenue in Provo, Utah. Viewing will be held at the same address on Fri., May 25, 2007 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday morning from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. Interment, Provo City Cemetery with Military Honors.