Rutherford Lipscomb Ellis, Jr.

Rutherford Lipscomb Ellis, Jr, 86, died of a stroke early Saturday, August 8, 2015 in Atlanta, GA. He was preceded in death by his parents, the late Rutherford L. Ellis, Sr. and the late Martha Hodgson Ellis. He graduated from E. Rivers Elementary School, North Fulton High School, and Georgia Tech. Ruddy was an Electrical Engineer. When he was drafted into the Army, he was sent to Huntsville, AL to work with Von Braun on the missile program. He was a leading ham radio operator (W4LNG) since he was a teenager. His passionate interest in railroads led to his participation in the National Railway Historical Society and local railroad groups. He wrote many articles about railroads which were published in North Georgia magazines. His hobbies also included ice skating. He was a founding member of the Atlanta Figure Skating Club and a skating judge for several years, which led to a volunteer job at the 1980 Winter Olympics. Ruddy was an active longtime member of North Avenue Presbyterian Church and more recently of Northside Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Piedmont Driving Club, the Nine O'Clocks, and the Buckhead Boys. He spent part of almost every summer of his life on Cape Cod and was a member of the Chapoquoit Yacht Club. He is survived by his wife of 58 years Daisy Almon Ellis, his daughters Marie Ellis Murdaugh (George) and Nancy Ellis Riggs (Dan), grandchildren Sarah and Marshall Murdaugh, and his sister Margaret Ellis Langford. Memorial services celebrating Ruddy’s life will be conducted on Thursday, the 13th of August at ten o’clock in the morning at Northside United Methodist Church with Reverend Dr. Gil Watson, Senior Minister officiating. Prior to the memorial the family will have gathered for a private graveside service at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Northside Methodist Church at 2799 Northside Dr. Atlanta, GA 30305 or one of Ruddy’s other interests.