Ashok Khilnani

Mr. Ashok Khilnani passed away on 5/21/25 at 2:12 am, palindromic numbers symbolic of Ashok's fondness of mathematics. He passed away with his beloved family near him and is survived by his wife of 54 years, Kiran Khilnani, CPA, his daughters Dr. Smina Khilnani and Dr. Neera Khilnani Ahuja, as well as his two granddaughters Simran and Shaila.

Ashok was born in Karachi, India (now Pakistan) on February 8th, 1943 as the eldest son of the eldest son in a large, multi-generational household. Captain of his field hockey team and an observant boy, Ashok would watch airplanes take off from the Karachi airport and knew that his future would be in Aerospace.

A graduate of IIT Kharagpur, he then pursued a masters degree in mechanical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, as well as an MBA. Ashok worked at premier Aerospace companies including Boeing and Lockheed Martin, designing the cockpit of Airforce 1, and working into his 80's.

Ashok valued life long learning. He translated his advanced understanding of aerospace engineering to relevant examples for his family, whether it was flying the most aerodynamic of paper airplanes across the living room to his daughters or teaching them about Bernoulli's principle which applied to both aerospace and medicine.

In his 40's, Ashok taught himself and his family how to ski, he enjoyed watching NASA shuttle launches with his friends at the Kennedy Space Center, and taking his family to watch the Blue Angels dance in the sky. He encouraged his wife and children to attain the highest levels of education, helping them with math concepts and science fair projects, taking a silent pride in their accomplishments. He loved all sports, (including boxing), and ensured his daughters played sports to learn the values of teamwork and perseverance. Each morning, Ashok would read one shlok from the Bhagavad Gita and contemplated its meaning and applicability to his life during his drive to work.

His right brain was as refined as his left, learning to play the harmonica, piano, guitar, and harmonium by ear. Ashok found much joy in music and played Happy Birthday on the harmonica to his family on each of their birthdays, a tradition that will be kept alive by his family. He could cook both Aloo Gobi and Gobi Aloo he joked with his daughter as he taught her the recipe(s). Kiran was the love of his life, and his wholehearted devotion to her and his daughters coupled with his good-natured kindness to all is what will make his presence missed the most.

Ashok Khilnani lived a full and meaningful life embodying integrity and love, and his legacy will be carried on by his family for generations to come. May he be at eternal peace and be united with the Supreme Being. Ashok's funeral ceremony will held at the Hughes Family Tribute Center at 9700 Webb Chapel Road, Dallas, TX on Thursday May 29th from 1-3pm.