Obituary of Kenneth W. Ensley

Kenneth W. Ensley passed away September 24, 2014 in Olympia, Washington, four months shy of his 100th birthday. He was born January 31, 1915 to Ella and William Smith Ensley in Saginaw, Oregon. The family moved to Olympia when Ken was three, and he always returned to the Olympia area after his adventures, so he proudly considered himself a “lifetime resident.” The family, which also included Ken’s older sister Mae and younger brother Ray, lived in a two-story house just off the Yelm Highway. Built in 1890, it still stands on Ensley Lane. The family operated a farm on surrounding acreage, where Ken learned the value of hard work, including building fences and sheds. Ken often credited these construction skills with his later house building endeavors. Ken attended Hayes School through the 8th grade and graduated from Olympia High School in 1932. He loved swimming with friends at nearby Ward Lake and rafting on the Deschutes River. Always industrious, Ken took a summer job at a gas station at age 14, sometimes working 11-hour days. At age 15, he joined the National Guard (they didn’t check for age verification) where he became a skilled marksman on their rifle team. Becoming an employee of The Olympia Brewery Company, he was promoted to “brewer” by the time he was 21. His real adventure began in 1941 when he became a flight instructor at Boeing. He then was employed at Washington Aircraft in Wenatchee, Washington, well out of the “war zone.” It wasn’t long, however, that Ken joined the U.S. Navy as an Ensign during World War II. He earned his wings and became a Navy pilot stationed at Floyd Bennett Field in New York. After the service, he and four friends started a flying school in Shelton, Washington. As the demand for GI trainees tapered off, the flight school dismantled and Ken was busy flying as a crop duster over Wenatchee apple orchards, before returning to work at the Olympia Brewery. At this point in his life, a new adventure beckoned. Ken had always enjoyed fishing at Westport, Washington, which led him to become the Captain of a fishing vessel, “Mardo,” before acquiring his own boat, “Maverick.” He spent 17 summers hosting tourists and locals during fishing seasons. Flight instructing and home building took up the winter months of the year. In 1970, Ken and his brother bought a 20-acre farm in Littlerock, Washington, where they raised Christmas trees for another 17 years. In his spare time, Ken loved gardening, reading, ballroom and square dancing, traveling with friends, and being a “snow bird” in California and Arizona. He also played a little golf, and was a former member of the Elks Club. During his 99 years, Ken out lived three wonderful wives, Laverne Shaw, Fay Thyberg, and Wilma Downing. He was also predeceased by his sister, Mae Mann. Ken is survived by his brother, Ray E. Ensley of Tumwater; four stepchildren and several step-grandchildren; four nephews; and a niece. Please leave memories of Ken or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.