Edward N Ensor

1926-2022

Edward Norton Ensor, a resident of Davenport, Washington, for his entire life, peacefully passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2022, at the age of 96. He was part of both the Davenport and Reardan communities near Spokane, Washington.

Edward was born in Spokane on June 17, 1926, to Samuel and Frances (Norton) Ensor, the first of four children. Ed was raised on a farm in the Mondovi area. He attended a one-room schoolhouse for five years, traveling to and from school on a horse. When Ed and his brother Laurence were the only remaining students, they were transferred to the Reardan schools. After graduation from high school in June 1944, Ed began working full-time on the family farm, since there was a shortage of farm labor during World War II.

Ed attended the Reardan Evangelical Church (now known as the Reardan United Methodist Church), where he met Doris Zinser from Portland, Oregon. Doris was visiting her aunt and uncle, who pastored the church. Ed had the opportunity to take flying lessons, which proved very useful while dating. He made several trips to Portland to visit Doris, landing his dad’s airplane in a field near her folks’ house.

Ed and Doris were married on June 23, 1948, and they settled on a farm near Davenport. Doris took on the role of wife and homemaker, and together they brought up four children–a son and three daughters. Ed farmed the land for the next 42 years where he raised wheat, barley, canola, and grass seed. During that time, he was also employed part-time by the Lincoln County Conservation District, where he operated heavy equipment to build terraces and waterways. Ed was so proud of the fact that he drove combine for wheat harvest for 75 years, starting at the age of 15 to the age of 90.

In 1967 Ed was selected as the Lincoln County Conservation Farmer of the Year. He was a leader of the Willy Wire Hand (electrical) 4-H Club and served as Sunday School Superintendent, Board of Trustees, and various other positions at their church for many years. Ed also served as a board member of the Lincoln County Conservation District and the Davenport Retirement Village since its inception in the 1980s.

Ed and Doris had many building projects throughout their married life. From 1960 to 1966 Ed built a 50-foot by 120-foot cinder block machine shed on the farm. Over a ten-year period, the couple designed and built a retirement home and a separate utility garage in Davenport, where they lived for over 24 years until 2015 when they moved to a unit in the Davenport Retirement Village.

Ed and Doris had a passion for traveling. They made trips to every continent of the world including Antarctica. They went on numerous cruises and did motorhome trips throughout Alaska and Mexico. On a special anniversary they planned a trip with their children (and eventually grandchildren) including trips to Hawaii, Disneyland, Maui, and cruises to both Alaska and the Panama Canal. In the later years many of their adventures were by chartered bus which continued up to the time when Doris totally lost her eyesight. At that point Ed became Doris’ caregiver for the last four years of her life. The couple celebrated 71 years of marriage.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife Doris in 2020, his parents, and one brother Laurence. He is survived by one sister Shirley Staib, one brother David (Sally) Ensor, and his four children, Vicki (Jerry) Yonally, Doug (Patti) Ensor, Debbie (Jim) Llewellyn, and Sherri (Jeff) Ropp, 10 grandchildren, and 12+ great-grandchildren.

Donations in his honor can be made to the Reardan United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, at the Pleasant View Mondovi Cemetery, Four Corners Road, East. Immediately following the service, family and friends are invited to gather for a celebration of life with lunch provided at the Reardan United Methodist Church, 155 South Oak Street, PO Box 186, Reardan, WA 99029. Fond memories or words of sympathy for the Ensor family may be shared at www.stratefuneral-home.com.