Fred Clarence Ashcraft

Fred Clarence Ashcraft, 89, passed away on Dec. 29, 2018, at Providence Alaska Medical Center. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at Northside Seventh Day Adventist Church, 204 West 10th Avenue in Anchorage, Alaska. Pastor Jim John will officiate. A military graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019, at Fort Richardson National Cemetery; please meet at 11 a.m. at the Fort Richardson gate. Fred was born on Jan. 26, 1929, in Lindale, Texas. He served in the United States Army in the Philippines on the frontlines during World War II and the United States Navy aboard the USS Segundo naval submarine. Fred was united in marriage to Irene Harriet van der Ende on Oct. 27, 1947. Mrs. Ashcraft passed away on July 29, 2013. After serving in the military, he and his family moved to Montana to farm. The family then went to Tyler, Texas, where he became a tile setter. After the 1964 Earthquake, he moved to Alaska and worked for Artistic Tile. In 1965, he started his own tile company, operating it until he retired in 1994. Fred loved the outdoors, fishing, gardening and even snow removal. His favorite pastime was spending time with his family. He also looked forward to the submarine reunion he attended over the past 15 years. He was a member of Northside Seventh-Day Adventist Church. His family wrote: "He was a dedicated family man. Amazing husband, father, grandfather and friend. He lost both his parents at a very young age and always had a soft sport for children in his heart." Fred is survived by son, Ted and wife Dee Ashcraft of Kasilof, Alaska; daughter, Barbara and husband Jack Mize of Soldotna, Alaska; and son, Don and wife Robin Ashcraft of Anchorage; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and acquired daughter, Martha Castro of Anchorage. He is preceded in death by his wife, Irene Harriet; father, Fred; mother, Annie; three brothers; and three sisters. Memorials preferred to Children's Hospital, Providence Health, 3200 Providence Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508.