Kenneth Douglas Ashcraft's Obituary
Kenneth “Ken” Douglas Ashcraft, 70, of Young Harris, Georgia, and formerly of Albemarle, North Carolina, passed away on Thursday, November 7, 2025, in Young Harris.
A funeral service to honor his life will be held at 12:00 Noon on Friday, November 14, 2025, in the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Ron Loflin officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:30 until 12:00 noon prior to the service.
Born February 11, 1955, in Monroe, North Carolina, Ken was the son of the late William E. Ashcraft and Frances Lydia Miller Ashcraft. He was a 1973 graduate of Albemarle Senior High School and went on to earn his degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he attended as a National Merit Scholar and Alcoa Scholarship recipient. While at UNC Charlotte, he was a member of Phi Beta Tau Honor Society and served as President of the Student Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
Following his graduation in 1977, Ken began his engineering career with Hughes Aircraft in Fullerton, California, working on advanced military defense programs that took him across the United States and abroad to countries such as Israel, Norway, and Denmark. He later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he continued his career with Loral Display Systems (later known as L3 Technologies), contributing to major defense and aerospace projects around the world, including Japan and Australia.
In June 2000, Ken was recognized as the inventor and recipient of United States Patent No. 6,075,472, for Synchro-to-Digital Conversion with Widowed Peak Determination.
After 43 years in the engineering field, Ken retired in 2020 and devoted his time to woodworking, home renovation projects, and enjoying life in the Georgia mountains near Lake Chatuge. He also volunteered in his community with the Cub Scouts, local youth sports, and the Milton High School Football Gridiron Club. Above all, Ken loved spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Katie Cauble Ashcraft of Young Harris, GA; daughter Sarah Ashcraft Griffiths and husband David “Spike” Griffiths of Blairsville, GA; son Matthew William Ashcraft and wife Allie Johnson, of West Palm Beach, FL; and two cherished grandsons, Slate and Steel Griffiths. Also surviving is his brother, Richard Lane Ashcraft of Asheville, NC. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jane Miller Ashcraft Patterson.
Ken’s intelligence, wit, and kind heart touched many lives, and his legacy of innovation and dedication will continue to inspire all who knew him.
What’s your fondest memory of Kenneth?
What’s a lesson you learned from Kenneth?
Share a story where Kenneth's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Kenneth you’ll never forget.
How did Kenneth make you smile?