Hershel D. Bartley, 92 of Ashland went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 28, 2026 in his home with his loving family at his side.
He was born on August 26, 1933, in Ashland, the youngest son of 10 children, to the late Alfred and Fern (nee Reinhart) Bartley.
Hershel married the love of his life, the former Virginia Wachtel, on May 4, 1957. Together they called Ashland home for 68 years together.
In his early years, Hershel worked in road construction helping to build Interstate 71 and Route 30 with the operating engineers and crew. He then worked at the Eichley Corporation running heavy equipment. In 1971 he co founded and operated Bartley & Bolin Excavating, retiring in 1998. Retirement means many different things to many different people, for Hershel it meant purchasing a team of draft horses and showing Bartley’s Belgians with his family at the local fairs. One of his greatest enjoyments was driving his four-horse hitch into the coliseum. Along with his hobby, Hershel enjoyed farming his property and was even able to harvest last year. He also participated in tractor pulls at the Ashland County Fair and Loudonville Fair for many years.
He was a lifetime member of the Paradise Hill Church and a member of the Anderson Community Club. His greatest love was his family and how proud he was of each and everyone of them.
Hershel is survived by his loving wife, Mrs. Viriginia Bartley of Ashland; five children, Barb (Dan) Loomis of New Philadelphia, Karen (Jerry) Carpenter of Ashland, Dale Bartley (Lisa Roseborough) of Ashland, Sandy (Dave) Stimpert of Ashland, Ann (Mark) Hawley of Jeromesville; 12 grandchildren, Matt (Amber) Carpenter, Ben (Jess) Carpenter, Jacob (Tristan) Carpenter, Mark Fitch (Ashley Lantz), Jill (Ian) Bauer, Dean (Kelsi) Funk, Brittany (Ryan) Poling, Colton Sweet, Ty Hawley (Reanna Blough), Cade Hawley, Kristi Manning, and Taylor Stimpert; 15 great grandchildren; one expected great grandchild; and one expected great-great grandchild.
In addition to his parents, Hershel is preceded in death by his three sisters, Katherine Dillon, Margaret Truax, and Martha Hamilton; six brothers, Sam, Francis, Robert, Clayton, Calvin, Leroy; and three still born siblings.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Paradise Hill Church with Reverend Layton Broome presiding. Interment will follow in the Hayesville Vermillion Cemetery. Friends and family may visit on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Paradise Hill Church, 1491 St. Rt. 603 Ashland, OH 44805.
For those who may not be able to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.
John 14:2-4
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com