Ralph Ellsworth

Ralph Edward Ellsworth was born October 31, 1921, to Neal and Florence (Semler) Ellsworth in Trinidad, Colorado. The family moved to Arkansas where he grew up around the Pea Ridge area. He was inducted in 1942 into the Army Air Corps during WWII. He went through basic training in St. Petersburg, Florida, radio school in Chicago and gunner school at Tyndall AFB, Florida. Upon completion of training he was assigned to the 369th Squadron of the 206th Bomb Group. He was a waist gunner on a B-17 on the Schweinfurt, Germany raid. He was shot down on his first mission, wounded, captured by the Germans, and became a prisoner of war at Maulhausen Concentration Camp in Germany and Stalag 17B in Austria. He was released, returned to the United States in September of 1944 and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. Ralph married Blythe Edwards of Magnolia, Iowa on November 15, 1944. The couple settled on a farm west of Magnolia. Ralph farmed for several years, leaving the farm because of his declining health. He operated his own trucking business for many years retiring in 1982. Blythe passed away in 2000. Several years later Ralph married Vivian Kelly of Missouri Valley.

Ralph attended the Mondamin Baptist Church, was a member of the American Legion O'Hara Seeley Post 612 and Logan VFW Post 6256. He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans, 306th Bomb Group Assoc., and American ex-POW Group. Ralph was an avid woodworker and gardener. He also loved driving and drinking coffee with the men's group.

Ralph died Thursday, September 18, 2014, at the Longview Nursing Home in Missouri Valley, Iowa at the age of 92 years, 10 months, and 18 days.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; two wives; two brothers, William and Allen Ellsworth; two sisters, Virginia Jones and Viola Slocum; and four brothers-in-law. He is survived by two children, Kenneth (Brenda) Ellsworth of Logan, IA and Janet (Rex) Rhoten of Magnolia, IA; four grandsons, Charles (Nona) Ellsworth of WI, Timothy Ellsworth of Persia, IA, Micah (Susan) Rhoten of Wisconsin and David (Stephanie) Rhoten of Council Bluffs, IA; seven great grandchildren; Bryce, Amber, Tristin, Hunter, Archer, Joshua and Olivia; two brothers, Ward (Kay) Ellsworth of Mount Vernon, WA and Robert (Joyce) Ellsworth of Sumner, WA; sister, Ellen Hague of Washougal, WA; sister-in-law, Beverley Edwards of Greenfield, WI; two step children, Richard (Anne) Kelly of Missouri Valley, IA and Joan Bonham of Turin, IA; and other relatives and friends.