Russell H Ashton

Russell H. Ashton, 87, passed away on Saturday, March 10, 2012. He was born on February 8,1925 in New Symrna, Fl., and moved to Sanford in1934, then Jacksonville in 1940. He served honorable in U.S. Navy in WWII and the Korean War. He owned and operated Hawkins Battery Co. and was affectionately known by many as "Mr. Hawkins." He was a member of Mandarin Masonic Lodge #343, Scottish Rite and the Morocco Shrine. He lived in Switzerland for over fifty years and was an active member of Switzerland Community Church where he was a former Sunday School teacher and superintendant. He loved his current Sunday school class. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Ray, Bert and John Ashton and his sister, Cornelia A. Jones. Russell is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lottie Vanzant Ashton; sister, Corine A. Thrower of Cochran, Ga., and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin with a visitation of family and friends starting at 10 a.m. until the hour of service. Interment will follow in Hughes-Yulee cemetery in Yulee, Fl.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223. www.hgmandarin.com (904)288-0025.