Ken L. Ellsworth

Wichita, Kansas - Ken L. Ellsworth, 79, passed away on Sunday, November 26, 2023. A private graveside service is planned for a later date. Ken was born February 25, 1944 to Kenneth and Mary Jane Ellsworth in Kansas City, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Fontella Sprier. He is survived by his former wife Donna Cantrell (Lebanon, MO), their son Nathaniel Ellsworth (Abilene, TX) and sister Marcia Ellsworth (Wichita, KS).

Ken graduated from Parsons High School in Parsons, KS in 1961. After earning a BA in Social Work from Ottawa State University in Ottawa, KS (1966), he served in the Peace Corps (1966-1968). During the Vietnam War, he was drafted into the Army (1969-1971), and was stationed in Germany for two years.

While living in Sotik, Kenya during his time in the Peace Corps, he developed a love for photography, and later pursued a career in photojournalism. During his 25-year career at the Abilene Reporter-News in Abilene, TX, he received several state-level awards for photography and writing before his retirement in 2007.

Ken lived a full life consumed with a love of photography, classical music, jazz, reading, poetry, writing, chess and tennis, as well as spending time with his son and family. He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge and spent many hours doing research on his computer. Ken’s last seven years were spent in Wichita, Kansas living at Sedgwick Plaza Independent Living near his sister. He will be remembered for his quick smile, wit, kindness to others, and his skill at Trivial Pursuit.