He leaves to mourn, his companion, wife and mother, Nancy Elaine (nee Peyman) of over 40 years; his wonderful children Jennifer, Melissa and Michael Ashton; his grandchildren Alyson and Jack; his parents Ev (Pauline Marin) and Marjorie (Souter) Ashton (Charlie Stickney); his three sisters Susan Ashton, Dr. Kathryn Ashton (Dr. Paul Newman), Mary Jane McGuire (Mathew); brothers-in-law Paul and Dave Peyman; sister-in-law Carol Peyman; and several aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews and cousins. Predeceased by his father and mother-in-law Arthur and Noreen (Ball) Peyman; and cousins Kerry Brown (Glenna), David Souter (Bill and Marilyn) and Stephen Alguire (Mary).
During his 34 years at St. Lawrence College David served as a support services officer, part-time professor in the Business, Community Access and Continuing Education departments and then later as both the Manager of Community Outreach and Corporate Learning and then as the Manager of Skills, Training and Economic Development.