Matthew Vernon Ellsworth


Matthew Vernon Ellsworth
28 December 1948 – 26 April 2021
Matt, the youngest of three children born to Doris (Wilson) and John V. Ellsworth, passed away on April 26th in San Antonio, Texas.
Matt grew up on a farm in Delhi Township, attending Dunn School, just across from his house. He graduated from Mason High School in 1967 and earned degrees from Michigan State University in 1971, and Syracuse University. He attended Grovenburg Methodist Church in his youth.
Matt and his wife, Dr. Jill Harrison Ellsworth, co-authored many books in the early 1990s on Internet use in education, marketing, and leisure. (Online search “Matthew V. Ellsworth” to see some.) Matt was also interested in electronics, shortwave radio, both very early and later models of computers, stained glass, and many forms of photography, including stereoscopic.
In addition to Michigan, Matt has called New York, Vermont, and Texas home. He has lived in Texas for the last three decades, including San Marcos where he built his own house, Austin, and San Antonio.
Matt spent over five years in the care of Wanda and Lerome Dixon, of the Austin area. Later, he was appointed a personal guardian, Susanne Deiter, and was cared for by Honest Care and by Holy Savior Hospice of San Antonio. The family is grateful to all who cared for Matt.
Preceding Matthew in death were his parents. He is survived by his brother Daniel J. Ellsworth (Judy) of Eaton Rapids, Mich. and his sister Rose Anne Pool of Stoughton, Wis. (formerly of Mason, Mich.), as well as five nephews, eight grand-nephews and nieces, and many cousins.
Matt’s final resting place is the Fowler Cemetery, Aurelius Township, Ingham County, Michigan. Many of Matt’s relatives rest in this cemetery.
A simple graveside service will be held at the cemetery on Tuesday, June 1st at 11 a.m. (Eastern).
A live memorial service will be streamed online Saturday, June 12th at 10 a.m. (Eastern). Please contact Matt’s nephew John Pool via email at jpool@wisc.edu for information on connecting to this memorial service.
Memorial contributions in memory of Matthew V. Ellsworth can be sent to Robbins United Methodist Church, 6419 Bunker Rd., Eaton Rapids, MI 48827; or Family Eldercare of Austin, 1700 Rutherford Lane, Austin, TX 78754.