Marvin J. Ashton
Marvin Jeremy Ashton (May 6, 1915 – February 25, 1994) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1971 until his death. Ashton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the son of Marvin O. Ashton, a local LDS leader, who later became a church general authority. The younger Ashton worked in the lumber business as a youth. He graduated from the University of Utah. He served a mission in Great Britain, where his mission president was Hugh B. Brown. He worked as managing director of LDS Social Services. Ashton served as a member of the Utah State Senate from 1957 to 1961 as a Republican. He was also president of Deseret Book and involved in other business ventures including a lumber company. From 1958 to 1969, Ashton was an assistant to the general superintendent of the church's Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. He served as an assistant to superintendents Joseph T. Bentley and G. Carlos Smith. Ashton was ordained an Apostle on December 2, 1971, after the death of Richard L. Evans. Ashton was an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles between 1969 and his call to the Quorum of the Twelve. Ashton died on February 25, 1994, and was succeeded by Robert D. Hales. Ashton was involved with the Boy Scouts of America most of his life and earned Eagle Scout as an adult in 1963. As an adult he was a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA), the Silver Beaver Award and the Silver Antelope Award. Ashton and his wife, the former Norma Berntson, were the parents of four children. Marvin J. Ashton's grave marker