James B. Ashworth, a retired Raytheon Engineer and an active Burlington resident, passed away peacefully of natural causes at Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley on Friday, October 8, 2021 at the age of 88. Jim was visited and comforted by family members at the time of his passing, according to his obituary from Sullivan Funeral Homes.
He was born in Woburn the son of Virginia (Chase) and James Raymond Ashworth and grew up in Melrose. He was a graduate of Melrose High School and went to serve in the Air Force during the Korean War where he held the rank of Airman First Class and was a member of the 3523d Armament and Electronics Maintenance Squadron at the McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas. He served from February of 1953 to February of 1957. He was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
“All his experience and education during his military service helped guide him in his career path,” his obituary reads.
After the Air Force, he worked for Raytheon as an Electrical Engineer at the Waltham facility, working on radar systems and other projects.
Jim married his late wife, Maureen, in 1960 and they settled in Burlington in 1966, where they raised their 3 daughters, Susan, Dorothy, and Joan. He was a longtime parishioner of St. Margaret Church.
“He was also very active in the community,” his obituary states. “He was a member of Burlington’s Historical Society, Historical Commission, Library Trustee, and Town Meeting. He was a history buff who especially enjoyed exploring Burlington’s local history. He volunteered to give students tours at the Old Burial Grounds in Burlington explaining the original families of the town and how they influenced the town’s development.”
When he moved to Lunenburg later in life, he enjoyed attending the events offered at the Lunenburg Historical Society. He also had a passion for genealogy and spent time researching and archiving his family history back over 5 generations.
“He was a very dedicated father to his daughters and loved the time he spent with his grandchildren,” his obituary states. “He was inquisitive, a wealth of knowledge on technical subjects, and soft spoken, with a welcoming smile and memorable laugh.”
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