Ellen Ginther
July 4, 1969 — April 23, 2019
Ellen Ginther
Ellen Whitmore Ginther passed away peacefully surrounded by family and loved ones on April 23, 2019 in Blue Springs, Missouri. Born on the 4th of July in 1969 at Cottonwood Hospital in Murray, Utah, Ellen was the fourth of nine children of Keith L. Whitmore and Alice J. Curdy of nearby Granite, Utah. Ellen grew up in a small corner of Granite surrounded by siblings and cousins where Saturday nights were spent staying up watching Saturday Night Live followed by an early Sunday morning dash to occupy the front bench in the local chapel with all her siblings, as preferred by her father, Keith. Family time was always paramount to Ellen.
From her earliest days in Granite, Ellen sought to be with and connect with her family. Cousins' parties, reunions, weddings, holiday meals and family activities formed the foundation of future traditions for her own children. Ellen was disciplined and hard-working. Some of it was natural. Some it came as a necessity from being enlisted to work for the family janitorial business when she was around eight years old. Many afternoons following school, Ellen and her siblings would quickly eat dinner and then go to work cleaning local businesses for several hours.
Ellen learned the value of doing a good job and it carried through to the rest of her life as a student, dietician, wife, and mother. Many that knew Ellen were either the victim or beneficiary of her borderline OCD when it came to doing things correctly. Ellen was funny and loved to laugh, but could also be withering with her glances or retorts if she felt a comment or joke crossed a line - or if you just weren't funny. She loved music and played the violin for a number of years in her youth, often sharing her talents at church and community events.
Ellen graduated from Brighton High School in 1987 even though initially, she would have preferred it to be Alta High. She played basketball, lettered in cross-county and earned excellent grades. Following high school, Ellen attended Rick's College and Utah State University. Faith played a central role in Ellen's life. She chose to serve an LDS Mission and was assigned to Maracaibo, Venezuela from 1990-1991. Ellen touched many people's lives during her time in Venezuela and remained in contact with them for the remainder of her life. She brought home recipes and traditions that she incorporated into her own family. After her mission, Ellen attended The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Dietetics and met her future spouse, Adam Ginther. Ellen was a stalwart Buckeyes fan.
Ellen and Adam were married July 22, 1994 at the LDS Washington DC Temple. Following career and other opportunities, the Ginthers lived in Ohio, Colorado, Utah and Missouri, meeting and making friends along the way. Ellen's greatest joy in life was her children. In 1998 she and Adam welcomed twins, Austin and Gehret, followed by Spencer in 2002 and Alicia in 2005. In 2007, Ellen was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Drawing on her deep faith and belief in her Savior, Ellen was able to overcome and persevere, demonstrating resolve and grace with the increasing challenges over the years. Even near the end, Ellen was present and in control as ever while greeting well-wishers, coordinating household activities and planning for her family's future needs.
Ellen is survived by her husband, Adam; four children: Austin (20), Gehret (20), Spencer (17) and Alicia (14); mother, Alice; and seven siblings. She is preceded in death by her father, Keith (2010) and younger brother Richard (1974).
The family wishes to extend their sincerest thanks to the many relatives, friends, neighbors, ward members and others that helped and supported Ellen.
There will be a public viewing on April 30, 2019, from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at Goff Mortuary, 8090 S. State Street, Midvale, Utah. An additional viewing will be from 9:00 am-11:00 am immediately preceding the funeral services at the Granite Chapel. Funeral services will be held on May 2, 2019, from 11:00 am-12:00 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Granite Chapel, 9575 S. 3100 E., Sandy, Utah. Interment will follow at the Granite Cemetery, 9760 S. 3100 E., Sandy, Utah. (Within walking distance from the chapel.)
In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted on behalf of the family through Venmo. (Account: ginther.adam@yahoo.com )
From her earliest days in Granite, Ellen sought to be with and connect with her family. Cousins' parties, reunions, weddings, holiday meals and family activities formed the foundation of future traditions for her own children. Ellen was disciplined and hard-working. Some of it was natural. Some it came as a necessity from being enlisted to work for the family janitorial business when she was around eight years old. Many afternoons following school, Ellen and her siblings would quickly eat dinner and then go to work cleaning local businesses for several hours.
Ellen learned the value of doing a good job and it carried through to the rest of her life as a student, dietician, wife, and mother. Many that knew Ellen were either the victim or beneficiary of her borderline OCD when it came to doing things correctly. Ellen was funny and loved to laugh, but could also be withering with her glances or retorts if she felt a comment or joke crossed a line - or if you just weren't funny. She loved music and played the violin for a number of years in her youth, often sharing her talents at church and community events.
Ellen graduated from Brighton High School in 1987 even though initially, she would have preferred it to be Alta High. She played basketball, lettered in cross-county and earned excellent grades. Following high school, Ellen attended Rick's College and Utah State University. Faith played a central role in Ellen's life. She chose to serve an LDS Mission and was assigned to Maracaibo, Venezuela from 1990-1991. Ellen touched many people's lives during her time in Venezuela and remained in contact with them for the remainder of her life. She brought home recipes and traditions that she incorporated into her own family. After her mission, Ellen attended The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Dietetics and met her future spouse, Adam Ginther. Ellen was a stalwart Buckeyes fan.
Ellen and Adam were married July 22, 1994 at the LDS Washington DC Temple. Following career and other opportunities, the Ginthers lived in Ohio, Colorado, Utah and Missouri, meeting and making friends along the way. Ellen's greatest joy in life was her children. In 1998 she and Adam welcomed twins, Austin and Gehret, followed by Spencer in 2002 and Alicia in 2005. In 2007, Ellen was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Drawing on her deep faith and belief in her Savior, Ellen was able to overcome and persevere, demonstrating resolve and grace with the increasing challenges over the years. Even near the end, Ellen was present and in control as ever while greeting well-wishers, coordinating household activities and planning for her family's future needs.
Ellen is survived by her husband, Adam; four children: Austin (20), Gehret (20), Spencer (17) and Alicia (14); mother, Alice; and seven siblings. She is preceded in death by her father, Keith (2010) and younger brother Richard (1974).
The family wishes to extend their sincerest thanks to the many relatives, friends, neighbors, ward members and others that helped and supported Ellen.
There will be a public viewing on April 30, 2019, from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at Goff Mortuary, 8090 S. State Street, Midvale, Utah. An additional viewing will be from 9:00 am-11:00 am immediately preceding the funeral services at the Granite Chapel. Funeral services will be held on May 2, 2019, from 11:00 am-12:00 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Granite Chapel, 9575 S. 3100 E., Sandy, Utah. Interment will follow at the Granite Cemetery, 9760 S. 3100 E., Sandy, Utah. (Within walking distance from the chapel.)
In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted on behalf of the family through Venmo. (Account: ginther.adam@yahoo.com )
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