Kenneth Charles Ellingsworth

Ellingsworth, Kenneth Charles, life-long resident and selfless servant of Delray Beach passed away Sunday morning, May 29. Ken, son of Rudy and Catherine Ellingsworth was born on July 30, 1926 at his family's home in Delray Beach. He graduated from Delray Beach High School in 1944 and then served in the Army Air Force in England and Europe from 1944 through 1946. After the service, he attended Florida State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1951. Later in his career Ken went on to get a degree in Organizational Management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce offered through the University of Georgia and the University of North Carolina. After graduating from Florida State University, Ken went to work for Commercial Credit Corp in Jacksonville and Lakeland, Florida for three years, returning to Delray Beach in 1955 to take the Assistant Manager position with the Chamber of Commerce. In 1957 he took the position of Manager of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce where he worked for two years. In 1959, Ken was offered the Executive Director position with the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce which he excitedly accepted and worked for the next 33 years until his retirement. In his capacity as Executive Director of the Delray Chamber he was a founding member or participated in the founding of the Delray Affair, Delray Economic Leaders Political Action Committee (DELPAC), Council of 100, Leadership Delray Beach, Atlantic Avenue Association, Delray Art League, the Florida Tennis Championship and the Delray Beach Historical Society. Ken was active in local government including serving as Chairman of the South Central Regional Waste Water Treatment and Disposal board, the Metropolitan Planning Board, the Delray Beach Housing Authority, Chairman of the Delray Beach City Manager search committee and Chairman of the Delray Beach Charter Review Committee. He also served as a Delray Beach City Commissioner for six years, two of which he served as Vice-Mayor. Civically, Ken was a tireless and selfless servant dedicating most of his adult life for the betterment of his community. He served on the boards of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Executives, Discover Palm Beach County, Leadership Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Development Board, the Committee to bring Florida Atlantic University to Boca Raton, Delray Beach Library Association, Atlantic Avenue Task Force Committee, Past President of the Delray Beach National Little League and Past Chairman of the Delray Beach Sister Cities Committee. He is an honorary life member of the Delray Beach Noontime Kiwanis, the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Delray Beach Historical Society. Among other acknowledgements, Ken was awarded the Expanding & Preserving Our Cultural Heritage (EPOCH) Community Service Award and the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce Life Achievement Award. Ken is survived by sons Howard Ellingsworth, Gray Guthrie, Lee Guthrie and Grant Guthrie, daughter Lindy Edwards, granddaughters Sofia Ellingsworth, and Lauren Guthrie, grandsons Coleman Ellingsworth, David Roland, Jr., Wells Guthrie, Scott Guthrie, Gray Guthrie, Jr., and Brian Guthrie, four great grandchildren and his brother Norman Ellingsworth. Ken cherished his family and friends, loved his hometown and was adored by many. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday June 11, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church located at 188 South Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Ken's memory to the Delray Beach Historical Society, 3 N.E. 1st Street, Delray Beach, FL 33444 or to St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Delray Beach). Lorne & Sons Funeral Home, Delray Beach.