Stephen (Steve) Ellenwood, 69, passed away on February 26, 2020, surrounded in love by close members of his family. A memorial service honoring Steve will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, March 5th at First Presbyterian Church in Ponca City, OK.

Steve was born in Glens Falls, NY, to Judson and Martha (Shaluck) Ellenwood on November 27, 1950. He graduated from Ponca City High School in 1969 and Oklahoma State University in 1973. He lived the majority of his life in Ponca City, spending many summers growing up on Lake Champlain in Westport, NY. He married Karen Trantham on August 4, 1979 on the grounds of Camp Dudley in Westport. For the majority of his career he worked as an award-winning culinary arts instructor, restaurant owner/manager and chef. He dedicated his life to serving others and was a former deacon and trustee of First Presbyterian Church, founding board member of Westminster Village, board member of the Opportunity Center homes and Kiwanis Club member.

Greatly loved by his family and friends, Steve will be missed beyond words. Those who shared his life will never forget his strength and endurance as a member of the Ponca City Wildcat wrestling team, his multi-faceted culinary talents, his unstinting work ethic, his kind, generous spirit, his ear-to-ear smile, and his deep devotion to his family. Steve also played in many rock-and-roll bands in his younger days and was an all-around jack-of-all-trades, building houses, painting, fishing and playing racquet ball.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Judson and Martha Ellenwood; aunt Jane Kapper and uncles Fred Kapper and Harold Glegg; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tracey and Gladys Randel, sister-in-law Mary Jackson and brothers-in-law Brady Trantham and Tommy Rodgers.

He is survived by his beloved wife Karen; children Cassie Niemann and husband Chad of Edmond, OK and Eric Ellenwood of Norman, OK; grandchildren Abbey Niemann, 9, and Graham Niemann, 6; siblings Lee Ellenwood of Greensboro, NC and Cathy Blackburn and husband Greg of Portland, OR; sisters-in-law Catherine Alder of Milwaukie, OR, Judy Rodgers of Barrington, NJ, Ellen Trantham of Ponca City, OK, Sherri Thompson and husband Jerald of Norman, OK; brothers-in-law Charles (Cotton) Trantham and wife Kristi of Ponca City, OK and Neal Trantham of Orlando, FL; and aunts Ruth Farnsworth and Ann Glegg both of Westport, NY. He also leaves behind cousins and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, all whom he loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Ponca City Public Schools, attention Brenda Storie, 613 E. Grand Avenue, Ponca City, OK 74601 to fund the Stephen Ellenwood Memorial Scholarship for graduating Po-Hi Wildcat wrestlers.

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