WILMINGTON — Philip “Phil” Thomas Ashby, a long time resident of Sneads Ferry, NC, died peacefully surrounded by family, on January 15, 2026 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice Life Care in Wilmington.
Phil was a retired USAF Major with 32 years of service (16 years as an NCO and 16 years as an Officer) and he loved every minute of his military career! While Phil was enlisted, he served with the Thunderbirds (Air Demonstration Team), was chosen as NCO of the year for the European Theatre, and earned his MBA from Auburn University. As a first Lieutenant (age 35) Phil was selected as Officer of the Year at his first duty assignment. Phil’s other USAF career highlights included an additional duty of handling Mortuary duty, which he served with distinction and pride, and Commander of a recruiting squadron. Phil retired from the Air Force in 1996 as the Commander of 19th Maintenance Support in the 19th Air Refueling Wing with a below-the-zone line number for Lieutenant Colonel. Phil had a very strong work ethic all his life and continued working for 17 more years after Air Force retirement with the Trane Co. in GA and Mine Safety Appliance Co. in Jacksonville, NC.
Phil fully retired in 2013, and became committed to his final “non-career” choices of playing golf every Tuesday (senior day) with great friends, tracing his genealogy, maintaining his love of numismatics, and taking great pride in keeping a meticulous lawn at his and Bibbie’s retirement home on the New River, sometimes mowing the grass two or three times a week, always wearing his very short shorts and sleeveless t-shirts.
Phil was born in Danville, VA on Jan 24 1946. He was the oldest son of 10 children, of which he was very proud. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Vivian (Bibbie), his children Meagan Carey (Brad) and Jake Ashby (Heather), 4 grandchildren (Ava, Aliza and Aaron, and Olivia), and his siblings Jackie Taylor, Rachel Tribble, and Judy Hopkins, and many loving nieces and nephews.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Virginia Ashby, and siblings Linda, Joel, David, Sharon, James, Steve. Phil loved his large family, and when the Ashby clan gathered together, much storytelling, laughter, piano playing and singing (church songs) ensued. His dad was a minister and as a teenager he was determined to be a “stereotypical preacher’s kid”. He was very successful at that, but ultimately became a very enthusiastic bible scholar.
Phil wholeheartedly loved his children, wanting to teach them everything he knew (whether they wanted to know it or not), and he loved spending time with his grandchildren. Despite what Phil may have admitted, he also loved the family dog Bodie, a lot! Phil was always the first one at work, and the last one to leave. After retirement, he continued to rise up early in the morning, completing the New York Times and local newspaper cross word puzzles while drinking coffee, and catching up on all the latest world events, all leading to him being a whiz at Jeopardy!.
Phil never met a stranger. He was that person who always lit up the room, his laughter bouncing off the walls…until…it was time for bed, when he would quietly slip out of the room for his early bedtime, leaving everyone else asking, “Where’s Phil”?. At the end of his life… staying true to his nature, this is how Phil chose to make his exit, very quietly, with his loved ones talking softly in the background.
A Celebration of life will be held at the family’s home in Sneads Ferry at a later date.
