Obituary of Richard Allen Ashford

ASHFORD, Richard Allen, Sr., 87 years old, born June 1, 1936, in Des Moines, Iowa, died in September 24, 2023. He lived for many years in Minneapolis, MN. He was preceded in death by his father, William Harry Ashford, and mother, Helen Monica (Van Winkle) Ashford, and his brother, William F Ashford, D.C. He is survived by his sister Carol Ann Mellon, and his loving wife of 42 years Laura Lynn (Barker) Ashford, and his children by a previous marriage: Randal, Evelyn, Richard, Jr., Robert Ashford, and Laura Lynne Hjort, as well as 9 grandchildren.

 

He attended elementary and secondary schools in Columbia Heights, MN where he played football and basketball, and classes at the University of MN, where he majored in Journalism and Theatre. He served two years of active Army duty, returned to the University, and then accepted a position as News Editor of the Hutchinson, MN Leader. A second writing job followed with Better Homes & Gardens magazine. He later joined his father in a family-owned real estate brokerage in Minneapolis.

 

Richard became an Actor/Stage Manager and followed a career in Theatre for nearly 20 years. He performed at the Guthrie Theatre and Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and pursued stage work in Chicago, Miami, New York and Los Angeles. Returning to Minnesota, he took Law Department positions with IDS and Honeywell before moving to Florida in 1998 where he later retired.

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