Obituary of Joseph Francis Ellis, Sr.

MARION, Va.

Joseph Francis Ellis, Sr., age 91, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2018 at Francis Marion Manor, Marion, Va.

Joe Ellis was a proud husband, father, papaw and American. He proudly served his country for 24 years in the United States Army. He served through 3 wars, World War II, Korean and Vietnam, and then moved to make Marion his home. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service and served as Vice-President of Ellis Home Oxygen until his death. Mr. Ellis never stopped. He was always moving – raising a family, working and spending time with the local VFW, Marion Civitan, Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus, and CB Club. Joe Ellis loved people, cooking, and laughing. His humor, love of the Yankees, Notre Dame, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy will be missed. There was a lot of love and personality in the small frame of Mr. Joseph Francis Ellis, Sr.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Katherine Ellis; his parents and three sisters.

Joe is survived by four sons, Joseph Francis Ellis, Jr., Dennis Wayne Ellis, Anthony Ellis and wife, Pam, and Damian Keith Ellis, all of Marion, Va.; three sisters, Josephine Marie Ellis, Theresa Clements and husband, Emanuel, and Dorothy Willis; brother, George Anthony Ellis, Sr. and wife, Fannie all of Roanoke, Va.; seven grandchildren, Joseph Ferris Ellis, Michael Benjamin Ellis, Brittney Denyce Ellis, Morgan Leigh Ellis, Kelly Ellis, Derick Ellis, and Katie Vandergriff and husband, Jared; two great-grandchildren, Owen Ellis and Ember Vandergriff; and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff from Hospice of Southwest Virginia as well as the staff on the second floor of Francis Marion Manor who gave great care to Mr. Ellis.

A Mass of Resurrection will be held Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel with Father Francis officiating and with Military Rites conducted by Francis Marion VFW Post #4667. Burial will follow in Attoway Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday, January 6, 2017 from 5 until 7 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Marion Civitan Club, P.O. Box 226, Marion VA 24354 for the Special Needs Fish-O-Rama Program.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is honored to serve the family of Joseph Francis Ellis, Sr.