William Ellis, Jr.

William R. Bill Ellis, Jr., 85, of Kerrville, Texas entered into our Saviors rest August 15, 2005 at his residence. Mr. Ellis was born August 22, 1919 in Brownwood, Texas to William Richard, Sr. and Jimmie Kate Dublin Ellis. He graduated from Brownwood High School, went on to attend one year at Howard Payne College, and then received his BS degree in Chemical Engineering from Texas AM University in 1941. At Texas AM he was a member of the Ross Volunteers and was recognized as a Distinguished Military Student. He was then commissioned into the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Calvary, initially stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. He married Mary Lou Anthony Mc Creary on June 2, 1947 in Brownwood, who after 52 years of marriage preceded him in death. Bill worked for the CocaCola Company in many capacities in the CocaCola bottling business for over 47 years, including serving as V.P. of Sales and Marketing for the Chicago CocaCola Bottling Co. and President of the Baltimore CocaCola Bottling Co. before retiring to the Hill Country in 1985. He married Virginia Hughes on February 18, 2001 at the First United Methodist Church in Kerrville. Bill took an active role as a member of the First United Methodist Church, served on various boards and committees, volunteered and served as Chairman at VBS and the rummage sale, and was president of his Sunday school class many times. He gave and wrote many childrens sermons over the years, many of which were published as Uncle Bills Kids Corner in the newspaper. He was also a poet, and an author. His first book Texas Wind was published in April of 2004, his second book Rubber Guns is being published now, and three others have been written. He was a frequent speaker at Camp Stewart where he gave campfire talks for many summers, a member of the Kerrville Texas AM Club, Rotary Club, and was also appointed by the County Judge to serve on the Kerr County Jail Committee. Bill loved golf and bridge, and was a founding member and past president of the Greenwood Forrest Golf Association. He was a man with a unique passion and love for life, fun, his family and friends, and was a joy to be around. He will be missed by his many friends and family.He is survived by his wife Virginia Hughes Ellis daughter, Kathryn Ann Howell and husband Tom of Herndon, VA two sons, W. Richard Ellis, III and wife Kathy of Round Rock Robert Anthony Ellis and wife Sherry of Brunswick, GA two sisters, Frances Lee Allen of Brownwood, and Ann Elizabeth Franks and husband Raymond of Nacogdoches nine grandchildren, Amy Rebecca Redwine and husband Matt, Diane Elizabeth Shaw and husband Jason, Carolyn Michelle Graves and husband Andy, Robert Anthony Ellis, Jr., and wife Abby, Alison Michelle Jeanes, Erin Leigh Wendling and husband Todd, Elizabeth Ann Ellis, Thomas Gordon Howell, Jr., Stephanie Elizabeth Howell seven greatgrandchildren, Alexis Jordan Redwine, Matthew Stephen Shaw, Stephanie Michelle Shaw, Isabella Madeline Shaw, Jennifer Diane Graves, Alexander Ellis Graves, and Sutton Anthony Ellis stepchildren, Carolyn Goad and husband Gerald, Helen Virginia Hughes, Peggy Ann Mueller and husband David, and Marie Gloria Rozacky and husband Ronnie stepgrandchildren, Blake Hughes Mueller, Shelby Ann Mueller, Robert Holloway Rozacky, Danielle Marie Hughes, Gerald Goad, Jr., wife Danielle and their son, Christian Goad and numerous nieces and nephews.Memorial services will be 10:00AM, Saturday, August 20, 2005 at the First United Methodist Church in Kerrville with Rev. Warren Hornung officiating. Honorary Pallbearers will be Walter Dreier, Bill Stokes, Noel Fisher, Dale Bishop, C.W. Brant, Bob McKinley, Bob Alexander, Gary Bronson, Dobbie Dobson, Dr. Homer Allen, David Rook, Bill Huggins, Si Ragsdale, Bob Bobo, and Lowell Bowdle.Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 321 Thompson Dr., Kerrville, Texas 78028, or the Laity Lodge Foundation, co H. E. Butt Foundation, PO Box 290670, Kerrville, TX 780290670, www.laitylodge.org.

---