Robert Lovell Ellsworth

Robert Lovell Ellsworth

Robert Lovell Ellsworth passed into the next life on Thursday, August 5, 2010 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on May 8, 1930 in Mesa, Arizona to George Franklin Ellsworth Jr., and Annie Dean Ellsworth. He was always a hard worker and loved life on the farm helping his father. He graduated from Mesa High School in 1948 and Mesa LDS Seminary. A faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Robert served an LDS mission in England from 1950 to 1952. He served for two years in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. On April 9, 1953 he married Ruth Kleinman in the Arizona Temple. They first lived in El Paso, Texas near Ft. Bliss where Robert was stationed in the Army. He graduated with a B.S. in Agronomy from Arizona State College in 1958 and received masters and doctorate degrees from Kansas State University and the University of Wisconsin, respectively.

During Robert''s professional career in plant genetics and plant nutrition he has worked for several seed and research companies. He was part owner and president of Vitech. He has enjoyed each place they have lived, Arizona, Kansas, Wisconsin, Texas, and Utah and loved the people he was privileged to associate with. He has also been a partner in a hog-raising business and two dairies.

Robert loves the Gospel of Jesus Christ and especially enjoyed living and serving in the small branches and wards of the Church for 39 years and considered this opportunity to be a special blessing and privilege in his life. He and Ruth enjoyed serving a mission to the Arizona Temple in 1997 and also served together as ordinance workers in the Ogden Temple for three years. Some of Robert''s callings included Bishop''s Counselor, Branch Clerk, High Councilman, Area Welfare Services Director, Branch President and many others. He especially loved being a teacher.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, and four children: Drs. Steven (Louise) Ellsworth of Texas; Shawn (Gaylan) Colledge of Clearfield; Marilyn (Kirk) Davis of Oklahoma; and Lori (Robert) Gardner of Syracuse. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and one sister, Martha Randall of Mesa, Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stillborn daughter, Amy; brothers, George Dean Ellsworth, and Joseph Franklin Ellsworth; and sisters, Ruth Blunck, Dora Hoffman, Lora Hunsaker, and Naomi Harris.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 9, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Clearfield Utah North Stake Center, 151 No. 1000 W., with Bishop Danny McMillan officiating. Friends may visit family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist''s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Clearfield City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund.

We are grateful to the nurses and personnel at Utah Hospice Specialists for their kind care.