A Celebration of his life will be held at St. Annes Catholic Church, on April 12, 2018 at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends Wednesday, April 11th from 5 pm until 7pm at Striffler Hamby Mortuary.
Dick was born September 11, 1942 in Neenah, WI to Howard and Marie Ellis. He served proudly in the United States Army and the National Guard Reserves. He was awarded a Purple Heart in the Vietnam War as well as many other medals and accomadations during his tenure. His other careers included being the first Harris County Manager, Deputy City Manager for the City of Columbus, Executive Director of the Buick Challenge PGA Golf Tournament and he retired as Vice President of Operations for Columbus Technical College in 2011. His most favorite “non-paying job”, as his wife jokingly referred to it as, was Chairman of the Columbus Development Authority. Dick’s passion and love for this position was driven by his desire to help with the growth and betterment of Columbus. In 2014, Ellis was given the Volunteer of the Year award by the Chamber of Commerce. He was also a loyal, long-standing member of the Rotary Club. He loved college football and was an avid Green Bay Packer fan.
Ellis was preceded in death by his parents, his mother-in-law Allie Mae Everritt, two brothers, Howard F. Ellis and Tommy Joe Ellis, brothers-in-law Farouk Sankari, Edward Spethman and Steve Bryan and his Aunt, Liliosa “Aunt Lil” Preisen.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sylvia Bryan Ellis, his daughter, Karen Fletcher Wise of Alpharetta, GA and her husband Olin, two Grandchildren, Hayley Wise of Chattanooga, TN and Mitchell Wise of Alpharetta, GA, four brothers of Neenah, WI, M. Gary Ellis (Sandy), David Ellis (Mary), R. Michael Ellis
(Elke), Mark Ellis (Sue), two sisters, Bettie Spethman of Omaha, NE and Jean Sankari of Taos, NM, and sister-in-law Linda G. Raney of Columbus, GA, as well as many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to East Alabama Humane Society, 712 13th Street, Suite E, Phenix City, AL 36867 or St. Anne Catholic Church, 2000 Kay Circle, Columbus, GA 31907.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.shcolumbus.com .
