Donald Harry Ellsworth

Donald Harry Ellsworth, age 82, passed away Friday, December 28, 2007.

He was the first born son of Della Circle and Harry S. Ellsworth. He was born at home in Villa, Ohio May 12, 1925.

Don is survived by his loving wife of sixty-one years, Jeanne Marie (Glover) Ellsworth; daughters Cynthia Ellsworth from Gahanna, Ohio and Cheryl Ellsworth from Seattle, WA, and son-in-law Walter Sive; 2 brothers Dale Ellsworth from North Hampton, Ohio and Daryl Ellsworth and wife Linda from Eria, PA.

Don was a 52 year member of the Masonic Paramuthia Lodge No. 25 of Athens. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite and the Shrine Alladin in Columbus, Ohio. A World War II Veteran, he spent two and a half years in the United States Navy serving as a Petty Officer 1st Class on the U.S.S. L.S.T. 685. The L.S.T.'s served as supply ships serving the United States Marines in South Pacific. Don attended the University of Dayton and the graduated from Wittenburg College with a BA in Business Administration in February 1950. Don began his career as an agent for Farm Bureau Insurance, which later became Nationwide Insurance Co. He held several positions at Nationwide, including Regional Claims Manager of the New England and Western Pennsylvania during his 38 year career before retirement in 1983. During his retirement, Don enjoyed golfing, winters in Bradenton, FL, and traveling to the west coast to visit Cheryl (including two trips to Alaska). He will long be remembered as a "jokester extraordinaire" cracking jokes with strangers and loved ones alike. This continued throughout his final days. He never met a stranger.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2007 at the New Moorefield United Methodist Church, 5065 Mechanicsburg Rd., Springfield, OH. Pastor Don Trumball officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Jones-Kenney- Zechman Funeral Home, Springfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Ohio or to the Home Reach Hospice/Kobacker House.