Stephen Col.

Colonel Stephen C. Ellsworth, PhD, 57, of Chester, Virginia, passed away Friday, May 6, 2011 at his residence. He was the son of the late Thyrle E. Ellsworth and Gladys M. Bischoff. He is survived by his wife, Jill McNee Ellsworth; sons, Chad S. Ellsworth of Atlanta, Georgia, Kenneth T. Ellsworth and wife, Leslie of Atlanta, Georgia, Ian A. Ellsworth of Colonial Heights, Virginia, and Rory C. Ellsworth and wife, Kristi of Chester, Virginia; also grandchildren, Danielle M. Ellsworth of Colonial Heights, Virginia, Dylan T. Ellsworth of Portland, Oregon, and Kellan C. Ellsworth of Chester, Virginia; father-in-law Harold L. McNee and wife, Mary Lou of Salt Lake City, Utah; brother-in-law, Brent L. McNee and wife, Cathie of South Jordan, Utah. Colonel Ellsworth was commissioned an officer in the United States Army Quartermaster Corps upon graduating from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology in 1979. He proudly served his country for 32 years including tours of duty at Fort Douglas, Utah, Tooele Army Depot, Utah, Fort Lee, Virginia, the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Pentagon. He was a graduate of the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Staff Identification Badge. He played a vital role in the cleanup of the Pentagon following the 9/11 attacks and was actively involved in supporting the Wounded Warrior Transition Brigade at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. A lifelong academic, Stephen held degrees from Walden University, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the University of Utah. For 9 years he graciously and humbly shared his knowledge as professor of criminal justice and homeland security at St. Leo University. He was deeply religious and served in many callings throughout his life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Stephen was a loving and generous soul whose mantra was "family first." He loved life alongside his glorious bulldog, Edith, and placed great care into the restoration of his ‘56 four-hole Buick, Buck. He loved music. He wrote and recorded progressive country songs under the moniker DocElls and became a diamond member of the Songwriters' Guild of America. He cherished the annual Ellsworth festivities at the beautiful shores of Nags Head, North Carolina. Stephen will be lovingly remembered for his eccentric sense of humor. He might pepper the most ordinary conversation with obscure movie quotes or compose some dry military memo in iambic pentameter. Above all, he will be remembered for his spirit of generosity, his random acts of kindness, his unconditional support of family and loved ones. He will be greatly missed by those who had the honor of knowing him. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2011, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Prince George Ward, 4181 Prince George Drive,Prince George, Virginia, 23875, with Robbie Vance officiating. Interment Southlawn Memorial Park, Prince George, Virginia. The family will receive friends Friday, May 13, 2011, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes and Crematory, 2033 Boulevard and also from 10-11:00 a.m. the day of the service at the church. Flowers are welcome or contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.