Harold Asher Cutler, Sr.

Harold Asher “Ash” Cutler, Sr., founder of Cutler’s Carpet flooring store in Corning, NY, former President of the Board of Directors of First Heritage Credit Union in Painted Post, NY, former two-time President of Kiwanis, and loving husband of Rose Cutler, died peacefully on Sunday, October 11, 2026, in his home. He was 92 years old.

Ash was born on March 9th, 1934, in Hornby, New York, the son of James and Dorothy Cutler. Raised on a subsistence farm during the Great Depression, he quickly learned the value of hard work. After graduating from Northside High School, he briefly studied ceramics engineering at Alfred University but took the entrepreneurial leap to start his own painting business. This later became Cutler’s Carpet in 1954—a business still serving the community 72 years later.

Ash is predeceased by his wife, Rose Cutler (Mcintyre); survived by two sons, Harold “Buddy” (Sharon) Cutler Jr. of Big Flats, NY and James “Jim” (Meghan) Cutler of Corning, NY; and one daughter, Ann (Steven) Shelley of Painted Post NY. Also surviving are four grandchildren: Harold “Hal” III (Kaitlin) and Nicholas Cutler, Steven Shelley, and Morgan Cutler; and four great-grandchildren: Pax, Myles, and Chase Cutler, and King Shelley; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his sister, Kay Paul (Cutler) of Cincinnati, OH, and brother Robert Cutler of Corning, NY; and two daughters, Kathleen Cutler of Big Flats, NY, and Debra (Edward) Cutler-Carlier of Elmira, NY.

Ash met the love of his life, Rose Cutler, when they were only teenagers. In their own words, he thought she was stuck-up, and she thought he was a country bumpkin. However, he soon won her over with his quick wit and passion for life, and the two eloped in 1952. They became business partners, parents, socialites, and most importantly, they remained best friends.

Ash was tireless in his desire to experience the world. Running and biking through the hills of central New York, shopping in Aspen, watching football in Seattle, building his own lake house, snow skiing in Italy and France, opening a bank account in Switzerland just to say he had one, he was never short of finding new things to do.

He also loved spreading joy to those around him, both through acts of controversy and acts of kindness. That could be dressing in bright pink in the latest season of Tommy Hilfiger, cutting the deck with one card in a family game of euchre, pronouncing the “l” in salmon to throw off the wait staff, throwing cherry bombs to excite neighbors on Seneca Street, painting a rose on his black minivan, or simply driving the gang of neighbor kids water skiing after work. His mantra was to “be good, but not too good.”

In celebration of his life, please raise a glass of champagne in his memory. He always said it was the best drink in the house.

Per his request, there will be no calling hours. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 10:00 am at St. Mary’s Cemetery Mausoleum, 375 Park Ave., Corning. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ash’s name to CareFirstNY, Corning Meals on Wheels, and/or All Saints Parish, 158 State Street, Corning, NY 14830, https://allsaintsparish.org/giving/.

Ash’s family has entrusted his care to Haughey Funeral Home, Inc. www.haugheyfuneralhome.com