Ashley Hood Daniel

Ashley Hood Daniel, son of Mildred Hood Daniel and Thomas Mason Daniel was born on the 30th of March 1940. After his fathers passing at an early age, Ashley was raised by his Aunt and Uncle, Hume and Mariette Lillard with their son Randall, where he grew up on their farm, learned to weld, build and race go karts and work on machinery etc. Ashley left the farm during his high school years and graduated from Fork Union Military Academy. He moved to Waynesboro in the early 60's and was a volunteer fire fighter for Waynesboro and it was during this time that he got a job at General Electric. He worked his way thru the ranks and was accepted into an apprenticeship program at UVA which helped him move up to the "Tool and Die Maker" job. He worked at GE until 1984 when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. During those early days at GE, he also started his own welding business, Daniel Welding and Repair. He had an uncanny knack for designing and building trailers.

Ashley also was one of the founding members of the Weyers Cave Antique Steam and Gas Engine Association. He also used to race late model cars back in the 50's and early 60's and has remained an avid follower of racing ever since. When the Virginia Sprint Series started, he started helping where he could with Tommy Humphries who made Ashley the "unofficial" Crew Chief for his team. The family would like to send out a special thanks to Tommy and his crew for allowing Ashley to be a part of his team, helping to keep him in good spirits as he fought his last bout with cancer.

Ashley Daniel was a Senior Deacon at Fairview Christian Church in Hood VA. He was married to Daphne Moyer Daniel, whom he was married to for fifty one years.

Ashley went to be with the Lord on Friday, the 20th of June 2014 after an extended battle of bladder and kidney cancer. Anyone that has ever met him will feel the sorrow of the loss of such a great man, great friend or great family member but all can say that Heaven has gained a great spirit.

He was preceded in death by both his parents and also a step father Clint Huffman. Surviving members of the family are his wife Daphne, one son Anthony Daniel and his girlfriend Rebecca Blackwell, three grand children, Robert D. Farmer III and his wife Danielle and their son Liam, Trena F. Booth and her husband Randy their children Trinity Farmer and Wyatt Booth and Toni Leigh Daniel Painter, her husband Eric and their 2 children Jacob Daniel and Lindsey Painter. He is also survived by many first cousins and their children of the Hood family.

A night of visitation is scheduled for 6:30-8:30 PM, Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes, 618 West Main Street, Waynesboro, VA. A private funeral service may be held at a later date per his request. Please make any memorial donations to Fairview Christian Church Cemetery fund, P.O. Box 19, Hood VA 22727.