Janet (Friend) Ashcraft passed away peacefully Monday morning, December 30th, 2024 at Ball Memorial Hospital.  She was born on April 5th, 1935, in Dunkirk, Indiana, to Wilbur L. and Lenore (Holcroft) Friend.  She graduated from Dunkirk High School and Ball State University.  She was a teacher at Westlawn Elementary School in Dunkirk and at DeSoto Elementary.  She also worked as a volunteer for 12 years at Ball Memorial Hospital.  She was a member of the Albany United Methodist Church.  She married her high school sweetheart, Bob Ashcraft.  They were married for 71 years.  They reared two loving daughters whom they adored:  Paula Moulton (husband Chuck) and Janell Wilson.  Bob and Janet traveled extensively in the United States and visited Europe on two occasions.  They also spent 13 winters during the 1980's and 1990's at their condo in Clearwater, Florida.

Janet is survived by daughter Paula Moulton (husband Chuck), daughter Janell Wilson, grandchildren Matthew Moulton (wife Mandy), Benjamin Moulton (wife Amy), Emily Moulton, Ryan Wilson, and Lisa Kaufman (husband Jason), 15 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bob, her parents Wilbur and Lenore Friend, a granddaughter Melissa Wilson, a brother Jerry Friend, three sisters—Peggy Smith, Judith Dhonau, and Betty Anne Frazee, and a half-sister Eleanor Moore.

As per Janet's request, she will be cremated; a celebration of her life will be announced at a future date.