Richard Cromwell Ashman Sr.

Richard Cromwell “Dick” Ashman, 96, passed away on Sunday, August 5, 2018, at Woldenberg Village, New Orleans, Louisiana. He was born on January 5, 1922 in New Orleans in a house on Calhoun Street, to Dr. Richard and Cora (Sammis) Ashman. He was a graduate of Fortier High School and attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He served in the Army Air Forces during and after World War II as an Aircraft Mechanic and Inspector, stationed for a portion of that time in Panama. After his military service, he worked as seismograph boat skipper. On January 3, 1953, he married Portia Udell, who predeceased him.
In 1954, he joined then newly-founded Ocean Drilling and Exploration Company, as one of its first employees, serving as Rig Electrician, a job created with the entry of the MR. CHARLIE, ODECO’s first submersible drilling rig, into service in East Bay, near Venice, Louisiana. He worked for ODECO for many years, and was eventually promoted to Assistant Superintendent, Mechanical & Electrical, covering the world as a mechanical and electrical troubleshooter, travelling to shipyards and offshore drilling rigs in Scotland, Norway, Australia, Japan and Singapore.
He is survived by his three children Heather (Mark) Warren, Richard (Cynthia) Ashman, and Holly (Donn) Jenson, five grandchildren, brothers Hubert C. Ashman and Lawrence B. Ashman and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother John L. (“Ted”) Ashman.
JACOB SCHOEN & SON in charge of the arrangements.

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