Marjorie Mae Wittenbrink

Marjorie Mae Wittenbrink, age 89, of Osawatomie, Kan., died Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, at Life Care
Center in Osawatomie.
Marjorie was born March 12, 1921, in Aubry, Kan. She was the youngest of 12 children born to
John Wesley Young and Mittie Malinda Young. She attended school in Merriam, Kan., and
graduated in 1939 from Fontana High School in Fontana, Kan.
Marjorie was married to Clarence Albert Ellsworth on Sept. 28, 1940, in Fontana. They made
their home in Fontana and Paola, Kan. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom
died in infancy. Albert died on April 14, 1965. Soon after, Marjorie sold their farm and moved
with the younger children to Osawatomie.
Marjorie worked for Russell’s Department Store in Paola in the mid-1940s during World War II.
She was a homemaker for a few years and later a secretary for the Dietary and Supply
departments of the Osawatomie State Hospital for 27 years. Marjorie retired on May 31, 1983.
Marjorie was married to Elra James Debrick in Osawatomie on Oct. 17, 1970. They made their
home in Osawatomie. Mr. Debrick died on Feb. 17, 2001.
Marjorie married William Carl Wittenbrink in Miami, Okla., on April 15, 2002. They also made
their home in Osawatomie. Marjorie moved to Life Care Center on Dec 5, 2007.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Osawatomie. She enjoyed traveling, camping,
fishing, sewing, cooking, card parties and other activities with her family. She also took great
interest in reading and doing crossword puzzles.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, two infant children, one stepdaughter
Connie Jo Jackson, six brothers and four sisters.
She is survived by her husband, Carl of the home; two sons, James Albert Ellsworth of Ruidoso,
N.M., and Dennis Lee Ellsworth of St. Joseph, Mo.; three daughters, Marilyn Kay Law of
Osawatomie, Nancy Ann Bartlett of Kansas City, Mo., and Rita Jean Crimm of Gilbert, Ariz.;
two stepsons, James Robert Debrick of Prairie Village, Kan., and William Carl (Bill) Wittenbrink
Jr. of Osawatomie; two stepdaughters, Debbie Jean Talley of Osawatomie and Judith Ann
Birchard of Lane, Kan.; one sister, Frances Brown of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; many grandchildren,
great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and numerous relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in
Osawatomie. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. before the service. Burial will be at Fontana
Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital.