Sam Ed Ashmore was born on December 14, 1930, and passed away peacefully on July 4, 2018. Sam was born in Eldorado, Texas, to Ada Lou and Hobson Robert Ashmore and raised in Ft. Stockton, Texas. He was the youngest of three children; his brother, Arthur Hobson Ashmore, and sister, Betty Sue Norton.
After graduating from Ft. Stockton High School, Sam began his 45 year career with TransTexas Airways, which became Texas International and then Continental Airlines. His job soon led him to Pecos, Texas, where he would meet his lifelong love, Joy Otto. His career moved them to Memphis and ultimately in the late ‘50s to Houston’s Hobby Airport. Sam and Joy began their family in Houston with their five sons – Colin, Royce, Scott, Kendall and Nick – and enjoyed their days on Regal Street with many loving and fun friends that they are still close to today.
While his career grew, Sam stayed grounded and remained a constant and active presence in his family’s lives, instilling the values of family, faith, humbleness, discipline and laughter in his sons. His daughter-in-laws, Claudia, Tracy and Melody, have seen these great values carried on in his sons. Sam’s life was met with sadness along the way with the loss of his son Royce who was 3, and Colin, 46, yet he always made himself available to family and friends no matter what he was going through.
Sam spent his last years at Continental as Senior Vice President of Properties and Facilities and retired in 1995 as Senior Vice President of Civic & Airport Affairs and thoroughly enjoyed his lunches with other retired Continental employees over the years. He was an active member of All Saints Catholic Church and spent time volunteering weekly at the church Food Bank, making many close friends along the way. Sam was always a great neighbor to have and willing to jump in and help out anyone who needed help. He never met a new construction home in the Woodland Heights that he didn’t walk through, and often included his family on these “sneak” previews. He spent much time with his family and truly enjoyed the many family gatherings that were often held throughout the year.
Sam, lovingly referred to as “PawPaw,” had ten grandchildren – Orion and Sammy; Sydney, Scott and Kate; Erik, Kyle and Rachel; Parker and Blake. He always enjoyed spending time with them and watching and learning about their activities, lives and careers.
Sam especially enjoyed their annual Thanksgiving visits to Junction to see his adoring sister, Betty, and her family, and the many trips back and forth over the years for visits and the Stewardson Family Cousins get-togethers and reunions.
Over the last few years, Sam exemplified his commitment to his marriage of 66 years to Joy, and enjoyed his Friday night visits with neighbors and trips down memory lane, as well as his daily walks eagerly greeting his neighbors.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents, his sons Colin and Royce, his brother-in-laws Felix Murr and Tom Norton, and his brother, Hop Jr. He is survived by his wife, Joy, sons’ Scott, Kendall and Nick, his grandchildren, his sister, Betty, his nephew and niece Bobby Murr and Carolyn McGuire and their families.
Visitation will be held at the Heights Funeral Home, 1317 Heights Blvd, on Sunday, July 8, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Funeral Services at All Saints Catholic Church 215 E. 20th Street, Houston, on Monday, July 9th, at 10:00 a.m. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the All Saints Catholic Church, noted Society of St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank.
