A Family of Funeral Directors

The fifth generation of Ashtons, Kline, Jr., Debra and Scott, are the current funeral directors.

R. Kline Ashton, Jr., licensed funeral director, has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University. Kline is an Eagle Scout and remains active in the Minsi Trail Council, BSA. He is also an active member of the Easton Rotary Club and serves on the board of Easton Hospital.

Debra Jo Ashton-Chase, licensed funeral director, has a BA in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree from George Washington University. Debra is President of the Pennsylvania State Funeral Directors Association. She is active in the Palmer Kiwanis, AAUW, and the Chamber of Commerce.

W. Scott Ashton, licensed funeral director, holds a BA in Economics from Lafayette College. He is active in his church and participates in numerous civic leagues.

R. Kline Ashton, Sr. (dec.), was in the funeral service his entire life. An Eagle Scout, he became an officer in the US Army during the Korean War. He held a BA in Economics from Lafayette College and an MBA from Lehigh University. Kline was a past president of the Easton Rotary Club and member of various Masonic organizations. He was instrumental in the founding of the Northampton Community College Funeral Service program, and served on their Funeral Service Advisory Board.

Arlene Carcione Ashton (dec.), held a BS in education from East Stroudsburg University. She was a teacher before joining her husband in the funeral service. She also served on the board of Two Rivers Health and Wellness Foundation, Easton Hospital Board of Trustees, and the Women’s Board of Easton Hospital.

Leaders within their profession

Within their profession, the Ashton family has had an enormous impact. Each member of the family currently has a leadership role in one of the funeral service’s local, state and/or national professional associations. Being in leadership and active on so many levels, they are aware of trends, changes in the law, and new product and service offerings. Their ability to exchange ideas with like-minded professionals at this level benefits their business, staff, and all the families they serve.

• Pennsylvania State Funeral Directors Association — current President
• International Order of the Golden Rule, a highly-selective, invitation only, international professional association — State Chair (State Chair of the Year), District Chairman
• Pennsylvania State Funeral Directors Association — two past District Governors
• Eastern Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association — two past Presidents
• National Funeral Directors Association’s Women in Funeral Service Program — past Advisor
• Funeral Service Program of Northampton Community College — Founding Member and current Advisory Board Member

Continuing education

Education is very important to the Ashton family. Professionally, they have been earning continuing education credits on a yearly basis since well before it was mandated. Current areas of study include green burials, teens and grief, Medicaid rules and elder law.

Comfort in continuity

The Ashton family has offered strength and comfort to grieving families in the community since 1847. Experience, sincerity and dedication are the reasons for this longevity. Funerals are a very personal business; the Ashtons know members of their community personally. It is not unusual for someone to tell an Ashton that his grandfather was buried by their grandfather. Many families have a family doctor, a family lawyer and a family minister. The Ashtons are proud to be, for many, their family funeral director. There is comfort in that continuity.