Andy CloseLena Edna Futhey Ellsworth died on October 31, 2020 at her home in Warren, Pennsylvania. She was 88 years old.
Lena was born on July 7, 1932 in Loudenville, Ohio. She was the daughter of John E. Futhey and Mary E. Thompson Futhey. After the death of her mother when she was three years old, Lena was raised by her aunt “Auntie” Leora Hutchinson and her uncle Edward Hutchinson in Springfield, Ohio. As a child, Lena developed a love for dogs that lasted her entire life while she helped her Auntie take care of the family’s dog kennel business. Lena graduated from Springfield High School in 1950 and she graduated from The Ohio State University in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy.
Lena married Daryl G. Ellsworth on September 4, 1954. Lena and Daryl were married for 40 years. Lena lived in the countryside between the towns of Dublin and Worthington in Ohio until September, 1978, when she moved to Warren, Pennsylvania. She raised four children and managed a small fruit farm in Ohio. She sold apples, grapes, pears, raspberries and vegetables from her farm. She enjoyed making jams, jellies, pies, apple cider and wine from the fruit. Her raspberry jam won “Best of Show” at the Franklin County Fair during the two years that she entered it. She also liked to stay busy in the summer and fall freezing and canning the vegetables that she grew in her large garden.
Lena worked as an occupational therapist at the Six Pence School and at the Columbus State Hospital in Ohio and at the Warren State Hospital in Pennsylvania. She worked at the Warren State Hospital from 1978 until she retired in 1995. After she retired, she helped her son Eric by working in his perennial nursery business. She also had the opportunity to travel. She took several trips to Alaska to visit her daughter Diane and her family. She went to Hawaii two times to see her granddaughter Denali graduate from college and get married, and a few years later she visited Denali again after Denali and her family had moved to Austin, Texas. She traveled to Mexico with her son Jim. She took a “road trip” to Florida with her sister-in-law Byrd Futhey.
Lena is survived by her four children: John Eric Ellsworth, Thomas Gregory Ellsworth, Diane Kay Ellsworth and James Andrew Ellsworth; her four grandchildren: Debra Denali Van-Kampen Lewis, Keaton Gregory Shepherd, Audrey Lee Shepherd and Sammie Ellsworth; and her six great-grandchildren: Hunter, Grayson, Oceana, Koa, Liam and River. Lena will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her well and by her little dog Holly who sits in her chair looking out the front window waiting for her to return.
It was Lena’s request that there be no visitation or services held. She has generously donated her body to the Humanity Gifts Registry of Pennsylvania for medical studies. Those wishing to place a memorial in Lena’s memory may do so to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East St., Warren, PA. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com.
