CHESAPEAKE - Donald Ashton Carruthers, born May 10, 1930, in Onancock, Va., passed away Aug. 10, 2008. He graduated from Cradock High School and Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprentice Program. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany three years.

He was predeceased by his mother, Lillian Campbell Carruthers; his father, Samuel Ashton Carruthers; and son, Richard "Ricky" Lee Carruthers. He was a longtime member of Cradock Baptist Church of which he was a teacher for the Rechamp Bible Class for many years. He was a member of Cradock High 1949, 1950, 1951 Retired Group. He was a coach for many years with the Deep Creek Boys Baseball and enjoyed camping and square dancing for 34 years. He retired from the NNSY after 33 years of service having been a supervisor in the pipe shop and as an engineering tech at the time of retirement. He belonged to NARFE, Brentwood Chapter No. 1692. After retiring, he worked briefly at CDI and Associated Naval Architects.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Phyllis Farrar Carruthers; a son, Edward Neal Carruthers; and a grandson, Daniel Kyle Carruthers of Chesapeake; a brother, Wayne Carl Carruthers of Fredericksburg; a niece, Melissa Linsky and husband Tim; great-niece, Abigail Linsky; great-nephews, Adam, Ashton and Aaron Linsky of Chesapeake.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Snellings Funeral Home, George Washington Highway Chapel, by the Rev. Rob Edwards, pastor of Cradock Baptist Church with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 7 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Cradock Baptist Church Storehouse, 96 Afton Parkway, Portsmouth, VA 23702. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.snellingsfuneralhome.com.