East Ryegate, VT- Earl Edward Ashcroft, 88, of River Road, died unexpectedly on August 12, 2015 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH. Earl was born in Haverhill, NH on June 16, 1927 to Edward and Lillian (King) Ashcroft. After attending graded school in East Ryegate, he graduated from Woodsville High School, Class of 1944. He attended Norwich University for a year prior to entering the US Army in 1945. Following his honorable discharge, he was employed at the Ryegate Paper Mill in East Ryegate his entire life. Earl was active in East Ryegate Village serving as the treasurer of the Fire District for a number of years. He was a Justice of the Peace and enjoyed officiating at many weddings. He was a member of the Ross Wood Post # 20 of the American Legion in Woodsville and of VFW Post #5245 in North Haverhill, NH. He was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Woodsville. Earl was an avid hunter and sportsman and was a successful deer hunter almost every season. He loved hiking, mostly in the White Mountains of NH, and was always accompanied by his faithful German Shepherds. He enjoyed skiing and his many feline companions. Survivors include his best friend, Don Holloway and wife Marilyn of Greenville, SC along with distant cousins and his many friends in the Ryegate community and the surrounding area. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 18, at 11 AM at Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch Street, Woodsville with Father William Watts of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Blue Mountain Cemetery, Ryegate Corner, VT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of the United States, Department: Memorial Donations, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20037.