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 was named managing director of the then-newly formed Church Social Services Department in September 1969.

[2] Among his assignments, he was president of the Polynesian Cultural Center and a member of the board of trustees of Brigham Young University–Hawaii.

[5] Ashton married Norma Berntson in the Salt Lake Temple on August 22, 1940, and they were the parents of four children.