Rae Johns Ellsworth

Born: Feb. 3, 1920, in MinneapolisDied: Oct. 27, 2006, in GenevaRan Mill Race Inn and received Wood awardGENEVA - Rae Johns Ellsworth, 86, of Geneva, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2006 at her residence.She was born Feb. 3, 1920, in Minneapolis, the daughter of Ray C. and Myra (Saxby) Johns.Rae spent two years at Connecticut College and then got involved in advertising and public relations.In 1944, she married a Navy test pilot from Philadelphia and Atlantic City. Eventually, she spent more than 20 years on the Jersey shore raising angus, guernseys, sheep, orchids and four children, as well as building a lot of houses and catching a lot of fish.In 1971, Rae returned to the Midwest, where the family business needed attention. In 1946, her father, Ray C. Johns, bought the Mill Race Inn, a small country inn on the banks of the Fox River in Geneva. With his death in 1964, she had the responsibility of running the inn, which now is three times larger. She retired in 2004.In 1974, she married Judge William "Bill" Ellsworth. They both had been very active in the community with civic work, politics, fundraising, tourism, little theatre and drama. In 1980, they started the Renaissance Repertory Company, a professional Shakespeare and classical summer theatre al fresco on Island Park on the Fox River and in 1985 directed Geneva's Sesquicentennial celebrations, including the Pageant with a cast of 400 members. In 1987, she and Bill were honored as man and woman of the year. She also was a Wood award winner and Historical Preservation Partnership award winner, as well as being a former president of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.She is survived by her four children, Bonnie Rae Off of North Aurora, Bobbie Rae (Ron) Smith of Hardin, Susan Kemble (Frank) Wiltse of Florida, and Ray Johns Off of New Jersey; one grandson, Kelly (Brandy) Vohs; and two great-grandsons. She also is survived by many members of her late husband Judge William H. Ellsworth's family. She will be missed and celebrated by a multitude of family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Judge William H. Ellsworth.Services and interment will be private. Memorials may be made to Fox Valley Hospice, 200 Whitfield Drive, Geneva, IL, 60134. Arrangements handled by the Malone Funeral Home Geneva. Information, (630) 232-8233.