Kimiko Ashcraft passed away on May 30 at Arden Courts in Winter Springs, FL at the age of 84.

Kimiko was born in Yahata, Japan and lived through World War II. She went to work at Ashiya Air Base where she met her future husband, Thomas Ashcraft. They married and moved back to his home in West Virginia, where they raised their three children.

Thomas died in the Consol Number 9 mine disaster in 1968. Afterwards, Kimiko went back to school to obtain her GED. She went on to get her Associate Degree in nursing from Fairmont State College in Fairmont, WV. She worked the remainder of her career at Fairmont General Hospital, mostly on the night shift. Her friends there remembered her as a hard worker. Kimiko was always proud of being a naturalized US citizen and thankful for the opportunities that she had here that she might not have had in Japan.

Kimiko developed Alzheimer's disease in the last several years of her life, eventually necessitating a move to Arden Courts Memory Care. She was known as quite a character there and never missed a chance to give her opinion. She also maintained her love of eating out and any opportunity to see children. Her regular restaurants and their staff became part of her family.

Kimiko is survived by her three children: Harold (Sharon), Debra and Aaron. She is also survived by her grandchildren Cara (Julian) and Lauren, and great-grandchild Isabelle.

A memorial service will be held at DeGusipe Funeral Home & Crematory in Maitland on Saturday, June 22. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Kimiko's name to Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center, 715 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714.

Kimiko will be buried in Mannington, WV alongside her husband Thomas Ashcraft.