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Dan Ashton of Pleasanton is looking forward to a special time next week when 18 of his family will join him to celebrate his 100th birthday.
Dan has lived in Pleasanton since 1975 and spent the last decade at the Stoneridge Creek community. He and his wife were in the first group of residents when it finally opened. We connected over lunch Monday to talk about his long life.
I have known Dan for more than 20 years—we attended the same church for most of that time and I have participated in a monthly retired men’s group he organized decades ago.
What’s struck me about Dan was his active life as a volunteer. At 95, he went with his church to distribute wheelchairs in Central America and that’s about the time he phased out of his decades of volunteer service to Habitat for Humanity. During his working career, he volunteered on East Bay projects on weekends. After retiring from his corporate career with Crown Zellerbach at 59 1/2, he expanded his involvement and traveled to several other countries to join builds. He joined church teams five times to serve in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Dan’s parents were members of large families and committed to community service. His mother was no. 13 of 14 children, while his dad was no. 7 of 7. His mother’s side of the family enjoyed remarkable longevity—93 was the average age at death and his mother lived to 96. They were successful farmers and his dad operated a grading and paving company.
So Dan grew up knowing how to work with his hands because they repaired their equipment. His parents gave back—his dad as both a community college trustee and a school board member, while his mother was an active Girl Scout leader for decades. Dan followed in those scouting footsteps earning his Eagle Scout and then serving Scouts locally for so long and well that he received the Silver Beaver Award, the highest recognition given to a volunteer.
Dan served in the U,S, Navy as a junior officer in World War II. He used that time well to complete his college degree and then did a year of graduate work before starting to look for work as a chemical engineer. There weren’t many industries in Oregon needing those skills so he joined Crown Zellerbach. He then put his building skills to work, constructing a two-room 200-square-foot home on a small river that was served by an outhouse. With that in place, he set out to find a wife and found Barbara. They were married for 64 years.
When he proposed, he gave her a choice of indoor plumbing or an engagement ring. She made the practical choice and Dan admits he procrastinated until she delivered their first child. She refused to come home, living nearby with her mother, until he delivered on the indoor toilet. They had two girls and a boy, all of whom are college educated and successful in their careers. Thanks to his son, he has eight grandchildren as well as a great-grandchild that he will see next week.
After retiring he consulted for Crown Zellerbach and other companies for about 10 years and also launched a custom woodworking business tapping into his life-long skill set. He found a niche building garage units for Mormons who store a year’s supply of food.
He and Barbara were active church members at GraceWay—she preferred attending the Presbyterian church. Dan joined the Balloon Platoon marching group after they moved to Pleasanton and he participated with them well into his 80s. He also sang in the church choir and continues to do so at Lynnwood Methodist.
Incidentally, Dan still drives and his license isn’t up for renewal until his 101st birthday. He takes a weekly test by inviting friends to ride with him and critique his driving. The only comment is to avoid getting too deeply involved in a conversation that could distract him.
His birthday wish was for 100 cards on No. 100 birthday Friday, Feb. 23.
