Published: October 30, 2009 10:19 am      

Kenneth Franklyn Ellington III

Aug. 2, 1951-Oct. 27, 2009

Kenneth Franklyn Ellington III, 58, 101 Woodlawn Drive, Goshen, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday.

He was born Aug. 2, 1951 in Greensboro, N.C., to Kenneth Franklyn Ellington Jr. and Wilma (Leonard) Ellington.

He married Susan Elma Pell July 15, 1972, in Fayetteville N.C.

A graduate of Elon College and Furman University, Ken began his career teaching orchestra and then went on to serve as the associate director of arts education and student activities in Fayetteville, N.C., with the Cumberland County School System.

After his teaching career, Ken began a new career in the music industry with Conn-Selmer Company in Elkhart. He then went on to work in various capacities for Super-Sensitive Musical String Co., Sarasota, Fla., Summerhays Music Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, and Ellington Strings LLC. Since early 2009, he worked for Buffet Crampon USA Inc. During his career he remained active as a program evaluator, festival and contest adjudicator, guest conductor, string clinician, consultant to instrumental music programs, and clinician for numerous teacher workshops on orchestra program development and implementation throughout the nation.

Ken was passionate about music education and the availability of quality instruments for students and professionals. He was an avid reader and loved classic and science fiction movies. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle and playing golf. He was outgoing and had a great sense of humor, which will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Susan P. Ellington, Goshen; their two daughters Carolyn Ellington Landreau, Alpharetta, Ga., and Kendra Ellington Nafziger, Goshen; his mother, Wilma Leonard Ellington, Greensboro, N.C.; brother, Steven Ellington, Greensboro, N.C.; and granddaughter, Alexandra Elise Landreau.

His father preceded him in death.

The body has been cremated. Friends may visit with the family today from 4 to 7 p.m. at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, where the funeral service will take place Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Brenda Sawatzky Paetkau will lead the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Elon University School of Music, 100 Campus Drive, Elon, NC 27244-2010.