William Ellsworth

William W. Ellsworth, 95, formerly of Des Moines, passed away on Saturday, May 10, 2014 in Sun City, AZ. Visitation services will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2014,
4 to 7 PM at Hamilton’s Funeral Home in downtown Des Moines.

Bill served during WWII in the 27th Infantry Division and was part of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater in Saipan, Okinawa, and Eniwetok. He received 3 bronze stars, an American Defense Medal, Theater Medal with Arrowhead denoting landing on hostile shores, three Battle Stars, Victory Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge. After the war, he enlisted in the Army Reserve with the 103rd Division in Ft. Des Moines. He retired from the Reserve in 1975.

He was a former member of Westminster United Presbyterian Church, North High Polar Bear Booster Club, Acanthus Chapter of Eastern Star, “Rainbow Dad” and awarded the Grand Cross of Color. He was a 50 year member of the Masons, member of the Scottish Rite, and Des Moines Shrine #43.

Bill started working in 1938 for the Des Moines Union Railroad, the Milwaukee Wabash, and Norfolk and Western (now Norfolk Southern). He retired in 1981. He moved to Sun City, AZ where he and his wife, Kathryn, joined the Sun City Posse and served for 20 years. He was awarded Posse Member of the Year and became Commander in 1993. He retired in 2004.

Bill is preceded in death by his wife Kathryn, grandson Andrew Reynolds, and is survived by his son William (Sharon) of Peoria, AZ, daughter Janet “Jan” Ellsworth of Des Moines, daughter Karen Mahon of Glendale, AZ, grandson Thomas Ellsworth, Peoria, AZ, and granddaughter Kristin Mattorano of Colorado Springs, CO.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

Print