Mr. Ewell was active in the Baltimore-Washington Newspaper Guild and tutored children for Reading by 9, a childhood literacy program. He also enjoyed running and worked out regularly with the Pacemakers, a Baltimore running group.
"I remember trying to follow Chris all over Druid Hill Park, and he really left me behind," said Robert Hilson Jr., a member of the Pacemakers. "He was a good guy and a good runner."
Mr. Ewell continued to run after he fell ill. When his condition prevented him from driving a car, he rode his bike to meet with fellow runners.
"That's not easy to do, to ride your bike and then run," Mr. Hilson said. "He wanted to do it because we were all his friends."
Mr. Ewell, who had lived in Baltimore for a decade, took a leave from the newspaper last summer and moved to his mother's home in Kansas City after his illness became more severe.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 4230 S.W. Gage Blvd. in Topeka.
He is survived by his mother, Delores Ewell of Kansas City; his father, Billy Ray Ewell of Naperville, Ill.; and another brother, Henri Ewell of Kansas City.
chris.emery@baltsun.com
Sun reporters Nick Madigan and Patricia Fanning contributed to this article.
