Ashton Glassell Gonella
Ashton Glassell Gonella passed away at home on July 12th surrounded by her family after a battle with cancer. She was born in Shreveport, LA, to Wesley and Ashton Glassell on January 13, 1929. She graduated from Byrd High School, and attended Hockaday Junior College and Centenary College.
She became interested in politics and was the president of the League of Women Voters. She also worked for the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and the Red River Valley Association. As a young woman, she was also a licensed florist and owned her own floral shop.
As a divorced single mom of twin boys, she became one of two personal secretaries to then U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) and moved to Washington DC in 1957. She remained part of LBJ's staff until 1962 when she received an appointment from President John F. Kennedy to be the Director of National Activities for the Office of Emergency Planning (forerunner of FEMA).
Ashton met the love of her life, John Gonella, in 1962. They were married for more than 27 years and have two sons.
In December of 1963, following the assassination of President Kennedy, she returned to the White House to join the staff of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, as her personal secretary. Ashton travelled extensively with Mrs. Johnson, and coordinated personal, family and social activities. She remained with Lady Bird for the duration of LBJ's terms and a close personal friend of the entire Johnson family.
After her time in the White House she briefly owned her own public relations firm, Capitol Ideas before returning to Capitol Hill as Executive Secretary for Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and then as a professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. In 1976, she joined the staff of the Senate Sergeant at Arms.
In 1985 she transitioned her career to real estate working in Maryland and the District of Columbia until June of 2014. Ashton was a member and chairman of several committees of local, state and national real estate organizations. She was named CRS of the Year in 2000 and served as President of the MD/DC CRS in 2005.
She was a member (and elder) of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church; a 50 year member of the Junior League of Washington; a member of the Royal Order of the Garter; a member of Columbia Country Club; a former President of Hamlet Place Association; former Secretary and long-time Board member of the 8101 Condominium Association; and an avid bridge player. She was also one of the most loyal and dedicated Washington Redskins fans in the world.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John Gonella; her son, David Robert Thornhill; and her sister, Francais Glassell Lambert. She is survived by 3 sons, Ashton Glassell Thornhill (Susan), Lubbock, TX; Jon Wesley Gonella (Donna) and Geoffrey Johnson Gonella (Lulu), both of Kensington, MD and daughter-in-law, Maureen Watkins Thornhill of Seguin, TX; 11 grandchildren, Bryan David Thornhill (Laurie), Austin, TX; Jonathan Ashton Thornhill, Los Angeles, CA; Allison Thornhill Hays (Kevin), Lubbock, TX; Kimberly Jenise Thornhill, Seguin, TX; Michael Thomas Thornhill, Lewisville, TX; Geoffrey Johnson Gonella, Jr.; Katherine Ann Gonella, Andrew Ward Gonella, Jacqueline Christie Gonella, John Murphy Gonella and Brody Charles Glassell Gonella, all of Kensington, MD; 4 great-grandchildren: Ava & Grayson Hays; Lela & Jackson Thornhill; Nieces, Francais Lambert Clymer (Charles) Dallas, TX; Wesley Lambert Richardson (Donald) Shreveport, LA; nephew John Ashton Glassell (Elisabeth) Memphis, TN. and an adored great-niece, Ashley Glassell Rockett (Rocky) a great-great niece Ashton Marianne Farr and her beloved brother, Wesley Drane Glassell, Shreveport, LA. There are also several great-nieces/nephews and cousins throughout the South.
Ashton Glassell Gonella passed away at home on July 12th surrounded by her family after a battle with cancer. She was born in Shreveport, LA, to Wesley and Ashton Glassell on January 13, 1929. She graduated from Byrd High School, and attended Hockaday Junior College and Centenary College.
She became interested in politics and was the president of the League of Women Voters. She also worked for the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and the Red River Valley Association. As a young woman, she was also a licensed florist and owned her own floral shop.
As a divorced single mom of twin boys, she became one of two personal secretaries to then U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) and moved to Washington DC in 1957. She remained part of LBJ's staff until 1962 when she received an appointment from President John F. Kennedy to be the Director of National Activities for the Office of Emergency Planning (forerunner of FEMA).
Ashton met the love of her life, John Gonella, in 1962. They were married for more than 27 years and have two sons.
In December of 1963, following the assassination of President Kennedy, she returned to the White House to join the staff of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, as her personal secretary. Ashton travelled extensively with Mrs. Johnson, and coordinated personal, family and social activities. She remained with Lady Bird for the duration of LBJ's terms and a close personal friend of the entire Johnson family.
After her time in the White House she briefly owned her own public relations firm, Capitol Ideas before returning to Capitol Hill as Executive Secretary for Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and then as a professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. In 1976, she joined the staff of the Senate Sergeant at Arms.
In 1985 she transitioned her career to real estate working in Maryland and the District of Columbia until June of 2014. Ashton was a member and chairman of several committees of local, state and national real estate organizations. She was named CRS of the Year in 2000 and served as President of the MD/DC CRS in 2005.
She was a member (and elder) of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church; a 50 year member of the Junior League of Washington; a member of the Royal Order of the Garter; a member of Columbia Country Club; a former President of Hamlet Place Association; former Secretary and long-time Board member of the 8101 Condominium Association; and an avid bridge player. She was also one of the most loyal and dedicated Washington Redskins fans in the world.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John Gonella; her son, David Robert Thornhill; and her sister, Francais Glassell Lambert. She is survived by 3 sons, Ashton Glassell Thornhill (Susan), Lubbock, TX; Jon Wesley Gonella (Donna) and Geoffrey Johnson Gonella (Lulu), both of Kensington, MD and daughter-in-law, Maureen Watkins Thornhill of Seguin, TX; 11 grandchildren, Bryan David Thornhill (Laurie), Austin, TX; Jonathan Ashton Thornhill, Los Angeles, CA; Allison Thornhill Hays (Kevin), Lubbock, TX; Kimberly Jenise Thornhill, Seguin, TX; Michael Thomas Thornhill, Lewisville, TX; Geoffrey Johnson Gonella, Jr.; Katherine Ann Gonella, Andrew Ward Gonella, Jacqueline Christie Gonella, John Murphy Gonella and Brody Charles Glassell Gonella, all of Kensington, MD; 4 great-grandchildren: Ava & Grayson Hays; Lela & Jackson Thornhill; Nieces, Francais Lambert Clymer (Charles) Dallas, TX; Wesley Lambert Richardson (Donald) Shreveport, LA; nephew John Ashton Glassell (Elisabeth) Memphis, TN. and an adored great-niece, Ashley Glassell Rockett (Rocky) a great-great niece Ashton Marianne Farr and her beloved brother, Wesley Drane Glassell, Shreveport, LA. There are also several great-nieces/nephews and cousins throughout the South.
Ashton Glassell Gonella
Ashton Glassell Gonella passed away at home on July 12th surrounded by her family after a battle with cancer. She was born in Shreveport, LA, to Wesley and Ashton Glassell on January 13, 1929. She graduated from Byrd High School, and attended Hockaday Junior College and Centenary College.
She became interested in politics and was the president of the League of Women Voters. She also worked for the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and the Red River Valley Association. As a young woman, she was also a licensed florist and owned her own floral shop.
As a divorced single mom of twin boys, she became one of two personal secretaries to then U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) and moved to Washington DC in 1957. She remained part of LBJ's staff until 1962 when she received an appointment from President John F. Kennedy to be the Director of National Activities for the Office of Emergency Planning (forerunner of FEMA).
Ashton met the love of her life, John Gonella, in 1962. They were married for more than 27 years and have two sons.
In December of 1963, following the assassination of President Kennedy, she returned to the White House to join the staff of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, as her personal secretary. Ashton travelled extensively with Mrs. Johnson, and coordinated personal, family and social activities. She remained with Lady Bird for the duration of LBJ's terms and a close personal friend of the entire Johnson family.
After her time in the White House she briefly owned her own public relations firm, Capitol Ideas before returning to Capitol Hill as Executive Secretary for Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and then as a professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. In 1976, she joined the staff of the Senate Sergeant at Arms.
In 1985 she transitioned her career to real estate working in Maryland and the District of Columbia until June of 2014. Ashton was a member and chairman of several committees of local, state and national real estate organizations. She was named CRS of the Year in 2000 and served as President of the MD/DC CRS in 2005.
She was a member (and elder) of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church; a 50 year member of the Junior League of Washington; a member of the Royal Order of the Garter; a member of Columbia Country Club; a former President of Hamlet Place Association; former Secretary and long-time Board member of the 8101 Condominium Association; and an avid bridge player. She was also one of the most loyal and dedicated Washington Redskins fans in the world.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John Gonella; her son, David Robert Thornhill; and her sister, Francais Glassell Lambert. She is survived by 3 sons, Ashton Glassell Thornhill (Susan), Lubbock, TX; Jon Wesley Gonella (Donna) and Geoffrey Johnson Gonella (Lulu), both of Kensington, MD and daughter-in-law, Maureen Watkins Thornhill of Seguin, TX; 11 grandchildren, Bryan David Thornhill (Laurie), Austin, TX; Jonathan Ashton Thornhill, Los Angeles, CA; Allison Thornhill Hays (Kevin), Lubbock, TX; Kimberly Jenise Thornhill, Seguin, TX; Michael Thomas Thornhill, Lewisville, TX; Geoffrey Johnson Gonella, Jr.; Katherine Ann Gonella, Andrew Ward Gonella, Jacqueline Christie Gonella, John Murphy Gonella and Brody Charles Glassell Gonella, all of Kensington, MD; 4 great-grandchildren: Ava & Grayson Hays; Lela & Jackson Thornhill; Nieces, Francais Lambert Clymer (Charles) Dallas, TX; Wesley Lambert Richardson (Donald) Shreveport, LA; nephew John Ashton Glassell (Elisabeth) Memphis, TN. and an adored great-niece, Ashley Glassell Rockett (Rocky) a great-great niece Ashton Marianne Farr and her beloved brother, Wesley Drane Glassell, Shreveport, LA. There are also several great-nieces/nephews and cousins throughout the South.
Ashton Glassell Gonella passed away at home on July 12th surrounded by her family after a battle with cancer. She was born in Shreveport, LA, to Wesley and Ashton Glassell on January 13, 1929. She graduated from Byrd High School, and attended Hockaday Junior College and Centenary College.
She became interested in politics and was the president of the League of Women Voters. She also worked for the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and the Red River Valley Association. As a young woman, she was also a licensed florist and owned her own floral shop.
As a divorced single mom of twin boys, she became one of two personal secretaries to then U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) and moved to Washington DC in 1957. She remained part of LBJ's staff until 1962 when she received an appointment from President John F. Kennedy to be the Director of National Activities for the Office of Emergency Planning (forerunner of FEMA).
Ashton met the love of her life, John Gonella, in 1962. They were married for more than 27 years and have two sons.
In December of 1963, following the assassination of President Kennedy, she returned to the White House to join the staff of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, as her personal secretary. Ashton travelled extensively with Mrs. Johnson, and coordinated personal, family and social activities. She remained with Lady Bird for the duration of LBJ's terms and a close personal friend of the entire Johnson family.
After her time in the White House she briefly owned her own public relations firm, Capitol Ideas before returning to Capitol Hill as Executive Secretary for Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX) and then as a professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare. In 1976, she joined the staff of the Senate Sergeant at Arms.
In 1985 she transitioned her career to real estate working in Maryland and the District of Columbia until June of 2014. Ashton was a member and chairman of several committees of local, state and national real estate organizations. She was named CRS of the Year in 2000 and served as President of the MD/DC CRS in 2005.
She was a member (and elder) of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church; a 50 year member of the Junior League of Washington; a member of the Royal Order of the Garter; a member of Columbia Country Club; a former President of Hamlet Place Association; former Secretary and long-time Board member of the 8101 Condominium Association; and an avid bridge player. She was also one of the most loyal and dedicated Washington Redskins fans in the world.
She is preceded in death by her husband, John Gonella; her son, David Robert Thornhill; and her sister, Francais Glassell Lambert. She is survived by 3 sons, Ashton Glassell Thornhill (Susan), Lubbock, TX; Jon Wesley Gonella (Donna) and Geoffrey Johnson Gonella (Lulu), both of Kensington, MD and daughter-in-law, Maureen Watkins Thornhill of Seguin, TX; 11 grandchildren, Bryan David Thornhill (Laurie), Austin, TX; Jonathan Ashton Thornhill, Los Angeles, CA; Allison Thornhill Hays (Kevin), Lubbock, TX; Kimberly Jenise Thornhill, Seguin, TX; Michael Thomas Thornhill, Lewisville, TX; Geoffrey Johnson Gonella, Jr.; Katherine Ann Gonella, Andrew Ward Gonella, Jacqueline Christie Gonella, John Murphy Gonella and Brody Charles Glassell Gonella, all of Kensington, MD; 4 great-grandchildren: Ava & Grayson Hays; Lela & Jackson Thornhill; Nieces, Francais Lambert Clymer (Charles) Dallas, TX; Wesley Lambert Richardson (Donald) Shreveport, LA; nephew John Ashton Glassell (Elisabeth) Memphis, TN. and an adored great-niece, Ashley Glassell Rockett (Rocky) a great-great niece Ashton Marianne Farr and her beloved brother, Wesley Drane Glassell, Shreveport, LA. There are also several great-nieces/nephews and cousins throughout the South.
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