Richard W. Ellis

Richard W. Ellis, 81, of Cromwell and formerly of Wethersfield, beloved husband of the late Susan (Adams) Ellis, passed away Wednesday, (November 3, 2010). The son of the late William and Lois (Bridge) Ellis, he was born September 17, 1929 in Philadelphia, PA. Dick graduated from Wethersfield High School, Class of 1947, and Dartmouth College, Class of 1951. He was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Reserves, retiring as Lt. Commander in 1973. Dick was employed by Travelers Insurance Co. as an insurance executive for 40 years. He was an active blood and pheresis donor and chaired the Blood Program at Travelers. Dick was a member of the First Church of Christ since 1946 and served as Deacon. He served on the Wethersfield Board of Education from 1958-1970 and was Chairman for several years. He was an avid duckpin bowler on the Travelers League and once scored a high triple of 520. Dick coached the Trinity Women's Softball Team from 1992-1996, and was a recipient of the Trinity College Athletic Department's Bantam Award. He also coached baseball in Wethersfield's Little League and Senior League, and was an umpire for the Wethersfield Men's Softball League. Dick is survived by his loving children, sons, David and his wife Pat of Mountain View, CA, Michael and his wife Donna of Tolland, and Peter of Lewisburg, PA; daughter, Jennifer Duggan and her husband Tom of Wethersfield; his daughter-in-law, Judy Ellis of Wethersfield; his nine grandchildren, Kaitlyn Ellis and her fiancée Chris Rozum, Meghann Ellis, Laura Ellis, Jonathan Ellis, Steven Ellis, Joshua Ellis, Roslynn Ellis, Matthew Duggan and Tommy Duggan; his sister, Nancy Wilson and her husband, Chuck of Coupeville, WA; and several nieces and nephews. Besides his wife, Dick was predeceased by his son Richard W. Ellis III. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 6 at 10 a.m. at First Church of Christ, 250 Main Street, Wethersfield with the Rev. Mike McDowell officiating. Burial will be private in Village Cemetery, Wethersfield. There are no calling hours. Donations in Dick's memory may be made to Dollars for Scholars, for the Richard & Susan Ellis Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 290338, Wethersfield, CT 06129. The James T. Pratt Funeral Service is assisting Richard's family. For on-line expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.