Stanley Earl Ash

Stanley Earl Ash (aka Stan, Dad and Big Grandpa), 83 of Holly Springs, passed away on October 27, 2026. He was born on March 17, 1943, in Akron, OH to the late, Oliver Jacob (Bus, Pappy) and Rosemary (Rose, Gay) Leedom Ash. He had two older brothers, James (Jim) and Lester, and what seemed like an infinite supply of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Stan’s family left Ohio and moved to Glendale, Arizona when Stan was seven. (Along with a less infinite, but still unbelievably large number of aunts, uncles and cousins.) A couple of years later, they moved into a small house that Bus built himself. In that house was a family of four giants run by a spitfire who barely cleared five foot-one. Not a one of them had what you’d call an inside voice, and the stories of the three boys growing up were a mixture of mild stupidity, danger and hilarity. But, despite the chaos, that tiny house with those five people was bursting with love and kindness. It was a haven to anyone a little bit broken. All were welcomed, fed, and taken in. And there was so much laughter. It was hard not to have fun within those cinderblock walls.

Out of that legacy came one of the best of men. A man who put everyone above himself, who loved fiercely, worked hard to give his family an amazing life, and found joy in the smallest of things. A man with quiet confidence, and no ego. A man who could draw everyone to him but never sought to be the center of attention. A man who told stories in a way that had you laughing so hard, but also a little leery of standing too close, unless a swinging arm might clock you. He was a man who carried on the legacy that Bus and Rose started – loving your family unconditionally and making all those you take in along the way feel loved and welcomed.

His wife, Lavonne, and two daughters, Kathleen (Kathy) and Carol were his whole world. He came from a family of men but loved nothing more than living in a house that was all women. He was the ultimate girl dad. He coached softball games, went to every track meet, and cheered on every success with unmatched enthusiasm. Nothing was better than looking up to see him in the stands with a giant grin and his huge arms overhead clapping like you had just won a gold medal. He loved nothing better than being known as Dad and later, as Big Grandpa.

No one worked harder for his family. He spent most of his working life in telecommunications as a project manager. He started as an installer for Western Electric in the 1970s, working in every part of Arizona. But he was away from his wife and little girls far too much, so, in 1981, he took a job at Northern Telecom and moved the family to Cary, North Carolina. It is safe to say that both he and Lavonne had a bit of wanderlust, and they never stayed in any one place too long.

But, between their time in Portland, OR, Oklahoma City, Scottsdale, AZ, they always came back to Cary. North Carolina had become their home, even if the homes within it kept changing. After retirement, he and Lavonne moved to Asheville for several years to be in the mountains that they loved, and to be near their youngest grandson, Zachary (Zach).

But, after eight years, they once again found their way back to the heart of North Carolina, eventually settling into what they called their last home in Holly Springs, NC. (Their daughters were skeptical, but it looks like Stan proved them wrong.)

While Stan loved with his whole heart, his daughters, his grandsons (Nathan, Adam, and Zach), and his great-granddaughter (Peyton), the absolute love of his life was his wife of 63 years, Lavonne. There is no story of Stan without his Lavonne. They met in 1960 while working in the cafeteria at Glendale High School when they were 16 and 17. Lavonne did not live in a house with a family like Ash’s. But Stan and his family took her in and showed her the love and kindness that she was missing. His mother saw what was wrong, and took care of not only her, but her stepsisters and brother. After Stan graduated and joined the Air Force, before they were even married, he was taking care of her, paying for her to have dental work done that her family could not afford.

On June 20, 1962, they were married at 18 and 19. And for the next six decades, it was a marriage that everyone admired and envied. They started out with the adventure of life on an Air Force base in the Middle-of-Nowhere (aka Indian Springs), Nevada, moved to Detroit, MI where they had their first daughter, and then to Arizona where they had their second. But it never really mattered where they lived. They were always a team. Together they raised two daughters, welcomed two sons-in-law, and saw their legacy continue with a three-pack of grandsons, and finally this past August with a brand-new great granddaughter. Not to mention that they both had a hand in loving some of the most spoiled dogs in history.

Stan and Lavonne were always in love and always inseparable. Every room in the house and the porch has two chairs next to each other. They talked all the time, and when Lavonne forgot something, Stan was her memory. As she said, “He made everyday fun.” On the last day of his life, they spent it together. They had dinner together, drank some wine, and watched the World Series. I think the only way he would have scripted it differently is if his Atlanta Braves were playing.

In addition to his parents, Stan is preceded in death by his two older brothers, Lester and James (Jim) Ash, many Ash and Leedom aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as a pack of well-loved dogs - Pancho Villa, KC, Molly, Gizmo, and Cody.

Stan was a big man who will leave a big hole in the lives of those who love him the most, his wife, Lavonne Ash; his oldest daughter, Kathleen Albert, and son-in-law, Jeff Albert; his youngest daughter, Carol Kanning, and son-in-law, Don Kanning; grandson, Nathan Kanning and his wife, Alex Kanning; grandson, Adam Kanning and his fiancé, Alex Smallwood; grandson, Zachary Albert; and great-granddaughter, Peyton.

Stan was a big believer that no child should ever want for anything that can bring them joy, so in lieu of flowers, the family requests that Memorial contributions be made to either Level the Playing Field or Toys for Tots.

Stan requested that we not hold a memorial service. So, to honor this truly one-of-a-kind man, the family would ask that you raise a glass of your favorite red wine, enjoy (like, really enjoy) a good meal, tell a story too loud and a little too enthusiastically, make someone laugh, hug someone who needs it, spoil your pets an unhealthy amount, and tell your family how much you love them.

And if you have a story you would like to share with the family, you can do so below within “Add a Memory’.