OBITUARY:

Alan Neal Ashbaugh passed away on January 11, 2017, at the age of 67.  Alan was born in Lodi on January 31, 1949 to Neal and Julia Ashbaugh.  Alan attended local schools, graduated from Lodi High School in 1967 and in 1979 graduated from Sacramento State University earning his B.A. Degree in Criminal Justice.  Alan was active in the Boy Scouts and he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 1962.

In 1968, Alan joined the USAF and served as a security police dog handler stationed with the 8th SPS K9 at Ubon, Thailand.

In 1971, Alan saw a picture in the LNS of a young woman and wrote her a letter.  They exchanged letters for six months before Alan's next leave and they began dating which led to their engagement six months later.

He was honorably discharged in 1972 and returned to Lodi.  He married Ellen Turner in 1973 and together they raised two children, Kristen (b. 1981) and Jonathan (b. 1984).

Alan was hired as a Deputy Sheriff with the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department from 1973 to 1980 when he retired due to a service related disability.

In 1982, he purchased McVay Security and renamed it Lodi Security Services. In 1988, he sold the business and the family moved to Medford, Oregon where he worked as an insurance adjuster until his retirement in 2005.  They returned back to Lodi in 2006 to be near family and friends.

While serving in the USAF in Thailand, Alan was exposed to Agent Orange which began his long journey of health issues including several cancers and heart problems starting in 1975.  Alan was truly an inspiration for his courage and never gave up the fight against the obstacles he had faced.

In 2014, he welcomed his first grandchild, Olive. She brought so much joy into his life.

Alan was currently serving as President of the Lodi Lions Club, which he had been a member of since 1983.  He also was a member of the Lodi American Legion, serving as Commander,  1986-1987.  He was a member of the VFW, Lodi Eagles and VSPA (Vietnam Security Police Association) and often attended their reunions.

He enjoyed golf, fishing, camping and hunting - especially pheasant hunting with his beloved dog, Bolt.

Alan is survived by his wife, Ellen Ashbaugh of Lodi; his daughter, Kristen (Nick) Ashbaugh-Helmreich; his son, MAJ Jonathan (Kalli Mannos) Ashbaugh; his granddaughter, Olive Helmreich, all of Reno, NV; his sister, Dana (Paul Taormina) Ashbaugh of Lodi; his mother-in-law, Olive Maria Turner of Lodi; his uncle, Joseph Emrich of Ohio;  a niece and a nephew; numerous cousins and forever friends, Michael Schmoll, Don Little, Wayne Moore, Don Mason and Gene Hamner.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Neal and Julia Ashbaugh; brothers, Richard and Michael Ashbaugh, and his father-in-law, Clarence Turner.

A celebration of Alan's life will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at 11:00am at Burgundy Hall, Lodi Grape Festival, 413 E. Lockeford Street, Lodi.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Alan's memory to Lodi Lions Club Foundation, P.O. Box 496, Lodi, CA 95241.

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The memorial service for Alan Ashbaugh will take place Saturday, February 4, in Lodi, California.  If anyone would like to contribute a brief memory of Alan, please email it to me. I will pass it on to the family, and perhaps read it at the memorial service.