Gerald W. (Jerry) Ash, 85, died May 9, 2025 in Sun City Center, Fla, where he had lived for the past 26 years.

Born June 3, 1939, in Clarksburg, W.Va., he was adopted at birth by Minnie Pearl Hibbs Ash and Forest Earl Ash of Bridgeport, W.Va.

A graduate of Bridgeport High School, 1957, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism at West Virginia University (WVU) and later taught journalism at WVU for seven years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1964 as a public information specialist, first as editor of the Fort Lewis (Washington) Ranger (the post newspaper) and later as media coordinator for visiting news reporters to the 1st Cavalry Division sector of the Demilitarized Zone, Korea.

In the 1970s, he was co-owner of a small weekly newspaper in Terra Alta, W.Va., the Preston County News, where he co-founded the Pioneer Press of West Virginia, a commercial printing firm. During those years the newspaper earned more than 40 state and national awards for excellence in journalism; he also co-authored the book West Virginia USA, a collection of photographs and stories portraying the life and history of the state.

Following the sale of his interests in the printing firm and newspaper, he and his wife established Associated Professional Services, primarily a graphics and desktop publishing business.
In the 1980s he was elected to two terms in the West Virginia State Senate, representing the 15th Senatorial District. Following his legislative years, he served briefly as vice president of the West Virginia Hospital Association and then accepted a position as president and CEO of the Nevada Hospital Association, Reno, Nev.

While in Nevada he also founded and served as president and CEO of the Liability Cooperative of Nevada, a self-funded liability and risk management program for hospitals and hospital-based physicians.
After a brief period as executive director of LifeGift Organ Donation Centers of Houston, Fort Worth, Lubbock and Amarillo, Tex., he became an independent consultant and senior counselor with the Forbes Group, a leading advisor to senior executives of professional and trade associations in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Ill.

During that time, he founded and managed the Association of KnowledgeWorks (AOK), an international professional organization which grew to several thousand members in nearly 100 countries. In conjunction with his work with AOK, he served as consulting editor, special correspondent and columnist for Inside Knowledge magazine, a London-based publication distributed internationally.

When he wasn't working, Jerry enjoyed do-it-yourself projects, including building three houses and remodeling more, and he especially enjoyed playing tennis, camping, gardening and cooking. He also authored a number of books, with the two about Mother Jones among his favorites.

He was preceded in death by his adoptive parents and sister Beverly Belle Ash Dunn, sister Carol McCarty Griffin and birth mother, Ellen Ash McCarty, all of Harrison County, West Virginia.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, the former Michele E. Linn; a daughter, Elisabeth (Libby) Linn (Lester) Herbert of Mulberry, Fla.; four grandchildren, Keena Ash-Pierce and Kaiha Herbert, both of Mulberry, Angel Hernandez and Jensen Hernandez, both of Brandon, Fla; and two nieces, Jennifer Lynch of Bridgeport and Missy Tyler of Good Hope, both in West Virginia.

Donations can be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of his wife, who has had multiple sclerosis since she was 15.