Thomas William Ainsworth Sr.

AINSWORTH, THOMAS WILLIAM, SR. (Age 84)

Of Chambersburg and Amberson Valley, Pennsylvania, died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on Saturday, April 1, 2006. Tom was born March 20, 1922 in Beloit, Wisconsin, the son of Oliver M. and Annie Bruce Ainsworth.

He earned a B.A. in English from Yale college in 1942 and then began graduate school. His studies were interrupted by World War II. As a U.S. naval officer, Tom learned Japanese and served in the Pacific until the end of the war.

After the war, Tom joined the United States Foreign Service. He studied Cantonese at the Army Language School. He served in embassies and consular offices throughout the Far East, including Fukuoka, Kobe and Tokyo, Japan, Taipei, Taiwan, Saigon, Viet Nam; and Hong Kong. His final overseas post was as U.S. Consul General to Osaka-Kobe, Japan.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Wilma "Sue" Ainsworth; three sons, Bruce H. Ainsworth of Cheverly, Maryland, Thomas W. Ainsworth, Jr. (and wife, Terry) of Woodbridge, Virginia and Daniel E. Ainsworth (and wife, Becky) of Severn, Maryland; two daughters, Jean Ainsworth Zablin (and husband, Gary) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Anne Ainsworth Kirkland (and husband, David) of Houston, Texas. Tom's grandchildren are Candice and Charles Zablin, Daniel and Andrew Ainsworth, Diana and Will Kirkland, Samantha Ballard and Alexis Ainsworth. He is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Ainswoth Steinberg and her four sons.

A Memorial Service will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, 2700 Luther Dr., Chambersburg, PA 17201 or to the Yale University Office of Development, PO Box 2038, New Haven, CT 06521-2038.