David N. Farnsworth, 91, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and accomplished
professor and life-long lover of learning, died peacefully of natural causes on Thursday, December 17 th ,
with family by his side.
David was born in Cullison, Kansas in 1929 to Frank Lister Farnsworth and Laura Axline. Both his
mother and grandfather were educators. He attended the University of Wichita, where he met the love
of his life, Rita Eileen Lowe. They were married in 1950 while David completed his undergraduate and
graduate degrees. They later moved to Illinois, where he completed his doctorate at the University of
Illinois.
David spent his entire career at Wichita State University. Starting in 1956, he devoted forty years
to teaching, writing, and administration. Teaching was his passion, and he eventually won every
teaching award that was available to WSU faculty. He was an especially accomplished lecturer, and
often spoke to the general public on a wide range of international topics. He had a gift for explaining
complex and divisive problems in a way that was clear and accessible to everyone.
His academic field was international politics. He was an expert on the Panama Canal, having
written a book on the subject with his close friend and colleague, James McKenney. He also wrote a
popular textbook on international relations that went through two editions. A frequent traveler, he
spent a year in New Zealand as a Fulbright scholar. A lifetime admirer of the U.S. military, he had an
encyclopedic knowledge of military history. He taught for a year at the Air War College, the senior
professional education school of the U.S. Air Force.
David had a calm charisma and dry humor that helped him navigate complex university politics
and bring people together. Although primarily a professor, he was on occasion called upon to fill
administrative positions. He served as Chair of Political Science, Associate Vice President for Academic
Affairs, Interim Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Director of General Studies. He also served on
numerous committees and was Vice President of the Faculty Senate. For four years he was a governor
appointee to the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission which is responsible for
recommending qualified individuals for appointment to the Kansas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.
He had a generous spirit that was most apparent at home with his family, and spent more time
with them than most fathers of that era, accompanying them on multi-week vacations during the
summer, helping with homework, doing home maintenance, and giving moral support. He and Rita
attended the First Unitarian Church for many years, where he served as president of the congregation
and was a member of the choir.
David is preceded in death by his wife Rita and his brother, Frank Lister II, and is survived by
three children: Diane (Ray) Farnsworth of Wichita, Brad (Elaine) Farnsworth of Silver Spring, MD, and
Pam (Chris) Young of Derby; 5 grandchildren: Lara, Ben, Irene, Katie and Mason, and great-
granddaughter Charlotte.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date. Memorial donations can be directed to
the American Red Cross through https://redcross-cmd.org/chapter/memorial.html.