Obituary of Robert Ellis

Robert Lewis Ellis, Born December 10, 1921 to Lewis Sebring Ellis and Lucy Marie Ellis in St. Joseph MO and as a child he lived in St. Joseph and for a brief time in St. Paul Mn. As a youngster he had a paper route and delivered groceries for the local store. One of the stories he told was that he had to walk up hill to school both ways in waist deep snow while carrying a hot potato. Having been to St. Joe this was probably true. However, we have no verification of the carrying the hot potato and snow being waist deep. He played baseball, softball, and was active in the Boy Scouts. Bob graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph MO in 1940 and then attended Community College in St. Joseph until he enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1944. During his service in the Air Corp. he trained in the meteorological department in San Francisco Ca. Afterwards he was stationed at Meacham Field in Ft. Worth where he met his future wife, Nellie James Crawford. Bob was in Germany during the occupation, returning to the U.S in early 1946. After his discharge as a Staff Sergeant from the 18th Weather Squadron Bob went to work for TWA in the Metrological Department based in Chicago. Bob married Nellie James Crawford on 10-12-1946 in Ft. Worth, Texas. Their first honeymoon was on the train to Chicago, IL where Bob was going to work. Later they were able to honeymoon in Mexico. In 1947 Bob and Jimmie moved to Tulsa. Bob went to work for Swift and Co. in sales selling meat products in NE Oklahoma. Later they were transferred to Amarillo Tx. Serving the Panhandle and West Texas area. In 1952 they returned to Tulsa to work for Service Pipeline Company in the Drafting Department, later transferring to the Distribution Department. In 1963 Bob went to work as Human Resources Director for Fenix and Sissons Engineering Co. A proposed move in 1967 to Las Vegas, NV caused Bob to take a job as Assistant Administrator of Children's Medical Center where he worked until his retirement in 1982. After his career at Children's he worked as a Consultant and then as a Courier for a small Accounting Firm. Bob was a community minded person: He was a multi-gallon blood donor, Counted votes after elections and was active in his church and with the PTA when his children were young. Bob and Jimmie were charter members of New Haven United Methodist Church with it's founding in 1957. Bob served on the Administrative Board, was the first song leader an usher and was also on the Board of Directors of New Haven's Day Care, He also served as the church liaison between the church and Boy Scouts. Bob would always work faithfully on fund raising projects for the various groups at church. Hosting kids on choir tours, and hosting many church functions in their home. Bob remained active in the church until his health began to fail. In 2002 Bob and Jimmie moved from their home in Holiday Hills to the Southern Hills Retirement Community. Bob passed away at his home on 7-6-09 after a lengthy illness. He will be greatly missed by all. Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years Nellie James Ellis, his children Lu Jones of Houston, Whit Ellis of Dallas, and Sarah Pielsticker of Tulsa, seven Grandchildren and one great grandson. The family will receive friends 5-7PM Thursday at Ninde Brookside Funeral Home. Service 10:00 A.M. Friday New Haven United Methodist Church interment Memorial Park Cemetery. Ninde Brookside Chapel 918-742-5556.