Rio Rancho, N.M. – Col. Servetus T. Ashworth, USA (Ret.), 83, died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014 of heart failure.
He leaves his wife of 57 years, Wilhelmine Reifenberger Ashworth; their children, Sonja J. Ashworth and Servetus T. Ashworth IV; many grandchildren, great-children; and his brother, Brian and his wife, Susan, of Westborough. His brother Carey Verne Ashworth, 80, of Valrico, Fla., passed away Oct. 30, 2014,
Raised in Westborough, he was the son of S.T. and J.C. Ashworth Jr., and grew up on their farm, Glenrock Farms. He graduated from Westborough High School and later from St. Benedict University.
Embarking on a long and distinguished career as a U.S. Army officer, he served throughout the height of the Cold War in the armored cavalry, both at home and overseas, including a tour of duty in Korea, two tours in Vietnam, and multiple tours in Germany and the Middle East. During his military career, he commanded a troop of the 11th Cavalry Regiment on the Iron Curtain and the 1st of the 10th Cavalry Squadron in Vietnam. He also taught at the U.S. Army Armored School in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Following his retirement after 32 years of military service, he was active in local, county, and commonwealth of Pennsylvania politics, serving as precinct committeeman and a member of the Republican Executive Committee for many years. He and his wife later moved to New Mexico where they resided in Rio Rancho, living near their family.
The Daniels Family Funeral Services (www.danielsfuneral.com) in Albuquerque, N.M., is handling arrangements. Burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
