1916
Ashley
2004
Ashley Woolridge
November 8, 1916 — May 3, 2004
Ashley E. Woolridge, 87
of 202 S. Front Street, Clearfield died on Monday, May 3, 2004 at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Shadyside Hospital.
He was born on November 8, 1916 in Bradford Township, Clearfield County, a son of the late Harold D. and Myrtle (Dickson) Woolridge.
He was a1934 graduate of the Clearfield Public Schools and attended West Point Military Academy from 1934 1935. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Lock Haven State Teachers College in 1939 majoring in Math and Science and a minor in English. He attended Penn State College Graduate School where he was enrolled in the Masters program in Education Administration obtaining 30 graduate credits before being called into service in 1941. From 1940 - 1941 he taught related Math, Science and English at Hanover High School. In November of 1941 he entered into the Aviation Cadet Detachment and graduated in July of 1942 from the U.S. Army Air Corps Flying School where he was commissioned 2nd Lt. and was a Rated Pilot USAAC. In September of 1942 he went overseas as a pilot and flight leader in the 319th Bombardment Group in a Martin B-26 Marauder flying the North Atlantic from Labrador, Greenland, Iceland and to England. In November of 1942 he flew to Africa at the time of the Allied Invasion. In addition, he flew combat from bases in Africa, Sardinia, Corsica and France through May 1945. On November 1, 1944 he was placed in command of the 320th Bomb Group (Med) B-26, 12th Air Force and 1st Tactical Air Force. In February of 1945 he was promoted to Colonel of 106 Combat Bombing Missions with 443 combat hours. During his time in the service he received a Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with two clusters, Air Medal with 23 clusters, a Presidential Unit Citation with two clusters and two Personal Croix De Guerre Avec Palms, one by General DeGaulle and one by General Juin. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945, returned to Clearfield and has since been a coal operator in the area.
Mr. Woolridge was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, Clearfield, the Clearfield Rotary Club, the Clearfield American Legion John Lewis Shade Post #6, the Clearfield Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge #540, the Free & Accepted Masons Clearfield Lodge #314, the Scottish Rite Consistory and the Shriners. He served two terms as President of the Alumni Association of Lock Haven College, was a Pennsylvania Highway Information Association Board Member, Chairman of the Clearfield Boro Park Authority, Clearfield County Flood Control Board, a board member of Clearfield-Jefferson Airport Authority and was a past member of Clearfield YMCA Board of Directors and the Clearfield Community Chest.
He enjoyed his family, horses, flying, the mountains, hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Anne (Leitzinger) Woolridge, whom he married September 16, 1948,
a daughter Nancy Jane Auten and husband Ron of Dover, Delaware and their daughters Mary Beth, Lindsay, Sarah and her Fiancé David Long
a son Dr. J. Randall Woolridge of State College and his daughters Jillian, Ainsley and Ginger
a son David D. Woolridge and his wife Diane of Clearfield and their sons Leigh, Doug and Elliott
a daughter Margaret Virginia Woolridge of West Lawn
a brother H. Rembrandt Woolridge and wife Mary Jane of Clearfield
and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons William Howe Woolridge and Edward Andrew Woolridge, brothers John Richard Woolridge and Dick Woolridge and sisters Margaret Woolridge and Jane Logan.
Friends will be received at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield on Sunday from 2-9:00 PM.
Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family with Rev. Michael G. Trimmer officiating. Interment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Clearfield.
Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the members of the Clearfield American Legion and VFW Posts.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Family House, 233 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, or Lock Haven University, Clearfield Campus, %Helen Hummel, Dean of Campus, P.O. Box 1410, Clearfield, PA 16830 or to the charity of ones choice.
of 202 S. Front Street, Clearfield died on Monday, May 3, 2004 at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Shadyside Hospital.
He was born on November 8, 1916 in Bradford Township, Clearfield County, a son of the late Harold D. and Myrtle (Dickson) Woolridge.
He was a1934 graduate of the Clearfield Public Schools and attended West Point Military Academy from 1934 1935. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Lock Haven State Teachers College in 1939 majoring in Math and Science and a minor in English. He attended Penn State College Graduate School where he was enrolled in the Masters program in Education Administration obtaining 30 graduate credits before being called into service in 1941. From 1940 - 1941 he taught related Math, Science and English at Hanover High School. In November of 1941 he entered into the Aviation Cadet Detachment and graduated in July of 1942 from the U.S. Army Air Corps Flying School where he was commissioned 2nd Lt. and was a Rated Pilot USAAC. In September of 1942 he went overseas as a pilot and flight leader in the 319th Bombardment Group in a Martin B-26 Marauder flying the North Atlantic from Labrador, Greenland, Iceland and to England. In November of 1942 he flew to Africa at the time of the Allied Invasion. In addition, he flew combat from bases in Africa, Sardinia, Corsica and France through May 1945. On November 1, 1944 he was placed in command of the 320th Bomb Group (Med) B-26, 12th Air Force and 1st Tactical Air Force. In February of 1945 he was promoted to Colonel of 106 Combat Bombing Missions with 443 combat hours. During his time in the service he received a Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with two clusters, Air Medal with 23 clusters, a Presidential Unit Citation with two clusters and two Personal Croix De Guerre Avec Palms, one by General DeGaulle and one by General Juin. He was honorably discharged in November of 1945, returned to Clearfield and has since been a coal operator in the area.
Mr. Woolridge was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, Clearfield, the Clearfield Rotary Club, the Clearfield American Legion John Lewis Shade Post #6, the Clearfield Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge #540, the Free & Accepted Masons Clearfield Lodge #314, the Scottish Rite Consistory and the Shriners. He served two terms as President of the Alumni Association of Lock Haven College, was a Pennsylvania Highway Information Association Board Member, Chairman of the Clearfield Boro Park Authority, Clearfield County Flood Control Board, a board member of Clearfield-Jefferson Airport Authority and was a past member of Clearfield YMCA Board of Directors and the Clearfield Community Chest.
He enjoyed his family, horses, flying, the mountains, hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Anne (Leitzinger) Woolridge, whom he married September 16, 1948,
a daughter Nancy Jane Auten and husband Ron of Dover, Delaware and their daughters Mary Beth, Lindsay, Sarah and her Fiancé David Long
a son Dr. J. Randall Woolridge of State College and his daughters Jillian, Ainsley and Ginger
a son David D. Woolridge and his wife Diane of Clearfield and their sons Leigh, Doug and Elliott
a daughter Margaret Virginia Woolridge of West Lawn
a brother H. Rembrandt Woolridge and wife Mary Jane of Clearfield
and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons William Howe Woolridge and Edward Andrew Woolridge, brothers John Richard Woolridge and Dick Woolridge and sisters Margaret Woolridge and Jane Logan.
Friends will be received at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield on Sunday from 2-9:00 PM.
Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family with Rev. Michael G. Trimmer officiating. Interment will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery, Clearfield.
Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the members of the Clearfield American Legion and VFW Posts.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Family House, 233 McKee Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, or Lock Haven University, Clearfield Campus, %Helen Hummel, Dean of Campus, P.O. Box 1410, Clearfield, PA 16830 or to the charity of ones choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ashley Woolridge, please visit our flower store.
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