Gene Ellsworth, 89

DALTON, Mass. — Gene E. Ellsworth, 89, of 42 Norwich Drive passed away at home on Saturday evening, September 9, 2017, where he resided with his daughter Laurie Michaels and her husband Bill. 

Born in Pittsfield on June 12, 1928, he was the son of the late Charles and Adeline Derby Ellsworth. A longtime Dalton resident, he had also resided in Hinsdale for many years. He was educated in Pittsfield schools and proudly served his country during World War II with the United States Navy, where he served aboard the USS Constitution–AH 15 as a hospital corpsman and first pharmacist mate. He also served at Camp Perry, Virginia and at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland and a member of the Fleet Marine Force as a First Aidsman. He was also the recipient of the World War II Victory Medal. Later, he served with the United States Coast Guard Reserve aboard the cutter USS Humbold. 

Gene was employed for 43 years at General Electric in the Power Transformer Division as an assembler. He retired in 1990. He was a former member of the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department, Hinsdale Fire Muster Team and the Anthony J. DeAngelus Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Dalton. A longtime New York Yankees fan, he enjoyed hunting, camping, carpentry, wood working and fishing with his good friend “Link”. 

He leaves two daughters, Laurie Michaels and her husband Bill of Dalton, with whom he resided, and Cheryl Blythe and her husband Howard of Enfield, Conn.; three sons, Kevin Ellsworth and his wife Linda of Peru, Dale Ellsworth and his wife Nancy of Dalton and Brian Ellsworth of Hinsdale; a sister, Betty Herrick of Dalton; 10 grandchildren, Peggy Ellsworth, Jeffrey Ellsworth, Shaun Ellsworth, Stephanie Miller and her husband Ryan, Eric Campbell and his companion Kim, Bethany Hagmaier and her husband Michael, Griffin Ellsworth, Annalise Ellsworth, Mitchell Ellsworth and Lee Ellsworth; right great-grandchildren, Tricia Walker, Amber Barree, Eric Fleury, Andrew Fleury, Jaxon Miller, Aidan Hagmaier, Danielle Hagmaier and Emerson Campbell; many beloved nieces and nephews; and his two special lifelong friends, John McCann of Dalton and Norman Haines of Pittsfield. 

He was predeceased by his former spouse and good friend, Joan MacWhinnie, who passed away December 10, 2013; and by his siblings, Elmer, Nelson and Robert Ellsworth and Mary Dunn. 

The Ellsworth family would like to extend the utmost gratitude to Dr. Henry Rose and the staff of Renal Dialysis at BMC for their wonderful care these past seven and a half years and to Hospice Care in the Berkshires for their outstanding care, compassion and support shown to their father and them. 

Funeral notice: A Graveside Service with Military Honors for Gene E. Ellsworth, who passed away September 9, 2017, will be held Friday, September 15, 2017, at 11 a.m. in Ashuelot Cemetery in Dalton. There are no calling hours. 

Memorial donations in memory of Gene may be made to Dalton Senior Center Van Services or to Dalton Ambulance & Rescue both in care of the Dery-Foley Funeral Home, 890 Main Street, Dalton, MA 01226, which is handling arrangements.