Ed Ellis

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Edward L. Ellis, 86, of Parsons, died at 3:15 A.M., Monday, July 8, 2019 at the Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.

He was born December 5, 1932 at Parsons, a son of Orman and Mary Elizabeth (Steeby) Ellis. He grew up at Parsons and Altamont and moved to Beaumont, TX while in high school to live with his sister. He returned to Parsons after graduating.

On September 2, 1951 he and Shirley D. Parlett were united in marriage at the United Methodist Church at Altamont. She preceded him in death on May 8, 2014.

In March 1952 Ed enlisted in the United States Air Force and served twenty years, retiring as an E-9 Chief Master Sargent. Places he was stationed included Izmir, Turkey (1953-1955), Vicenza, Italy (1958-1961) and Washington, DC (March 1958-November 1961). Upon retirement, he returned to Altamont and later Parsons, and continued his service in the Air Force and Army Active Reserves. He also worked at the Ellis Paint Company, LaForge and Budd construction Co. and worked in communications and security for Day and Zimmerman at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant.

He was a lifelong member of the Washington Avenue Methodist Church and when the church burned, he was active in the building of Wesley United Methodist. He served on the Board of Trustees at Wesley and also the pre-school board there. He enjoyed square dancing and was a member of the Swing N’ Twirl Square Dance Club at Altamont and Parsons for five years and was a square dance caller. He attended square dance nationals at Birmingham, AL and Oklahoma City, OK. He was also a Boy Scout and volunteered many years with Habitat for Humanity.

Survivors include: three sons and daughters in-law – Kevin and Kelli Ellis, Las Vegas, NV, Bruce and Julie Ellis, Springfield, MO, Mark and Trina Ellis, New Market, MD; one daughter and son in-law – Peggy and Bill Ruble, Erie, KS; one daughter in-law – Marcia Ellis, Parsons, KS; eleven grandchildren – Kristen Allexander, Great Bend, KS, Stephanie Revell, New Boston, TX, Courtney Hall-Munson, Lansing, MI, Amy Ellis, Bixby, OK, Michele McMillan, Sunset, UT, Erin Ellis, Yorktown, VA, Bobbie Bogner, Parsons, KS, Crystal Vanderford, Altamont, KS, Bryce Ruble, Erie, KS, Joshua Ellis, Baltimore, MD, Brandon Ellis, San Antonio, TX; twelve great-grandchildren; one sister – Frances Comer, Houston, TX.

In addition to his wife, Ed was preceded in death by one son – Wayne Ellis on April 11, 2008; one grandson – David Ellis; Five brothers – Osborn, Jeff, Marvin, Bob and Bill Ellis; and two sisters – Oleta Holmes and Mattie Whitten.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, July 13, 2019 at the Wesley United Methodist Church with Pat McReynolds officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery with Military Honors given by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Wesley United Methodist Church and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.