William Henry Napier Ellis

William Henry Napier “Nap” Ellis passed away peacefully in his sleep last Friday, Dec. 2, in his own bed and next to his devoted wife, Libby, of 64 years. Having celebrated his 91st birthday this year, Nap’s family takes great comfort in having spent a wonderful Thanksgiving together at their river lodge where Nap enjoyed a big party, watched the river go by, and ate freshly caught trout – some of his favorite things.

The Interment Service with full military honors will occur on Monday, Dec. 12, at 12 noon at Roselawn Cemetery in Tallahassee, Fla. A Celebration of Life service will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee. Fla. A Visitation and Luncheon Reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus Fund (End Polio Now). Rotary International is committed to eradicating polio from the world. These donations will directly support immunization campaigns in developing countries, where polio continues to infect and paralyze children, robbing them of their futures and compounding the hardships faced by their families. Those interested may make their checks payable to “Rotary Foundation” and earmark it for “Nap Ellis – End Polio Now.” Mail the check to Gene Kelly, Tallahassee Capital Rotary, P.O. Box 1795, Tallahassee, FL 32302.

It all started on Aug. 30, 1920, when Nap was born in Charleston, S.C., as the oldest son to Thomas Baynard “Tar” Ellis, II, and his wife, Pearl Napier. In later years the family moved to Columbia, S.C., where Nap graduated from the former University High School. Then the family moved to Greenwood, S.C., where Nap went off to graduate in 1941 from Clemson College, Clemson, S.C., as it was then known -- an all-male military college. There was no graduation ceremony since the events of Dec. 7, 1941, called Nap and all of his classmates to serve their country as the U.S. entered World War II. Thankfully, Nap was one of the 50 percent of those classmates to return home. Seeing the war from the viewpoint of the amphibious landing craft vehicles known as The Higgins Boats, he fought in North Africa, Italy, and Germany. By war’s end, Nap had decided to make the U.S. Army his career. While stationed at Fort McClellan, Ala., assigned as a General’s attaché, he met Elisabeth Woodward of Chattanooga, Tenn., the General’s niece. As these stories go, they soon fell in love, married in 1947, and started raising their two sons and two daughters. Many changes of station were to follow along with many adventures along the way. After first stops in Barnesville, Ga., and then Fort Eustis, Va., his Korean War duty took Nap and his family to Fort Richardson, Alaska (before it became a state). Next stop was the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he earned his master’s in transportation planning. Then off to Mitchel Field on Long Island in NY; Okinawa, Japan; Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Ga.; as well as Fort Monroe and Fort Lee in Virginia. At this time, our country was involved in the Vietnam War, and Nap and his family were off to Bangkok, Thailand. During the four years stationed there, Nap spent a year away from his family in Long Binh, Vietnam, the logistics center and major command headquarters for U.S. Army Vietnam. After a return to Fort Monroe, Va., he retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel. An opportunity as transportation planner with the Florida Department of Transportation brought Nap and his family to Tallahassee, Fla., in 1970 where he worked for 10 years until fully retiring. For the next 30 years, he enjoyed fishing with Libby on the flats out from the Aucilla River as well as vegetable gardening and traveling; quail hunting with his beloved bird dogs; and sailing to Dog Island with the Power Squadron. Being involved in the lives of his grown children was always top priority. When his five grandchildren came along, being a grandfather brought him the greatest joy. Always actively involved in the Baptist church wherever he lived, Nap was a member of First Baptist Church in Tallahassee. Whether it was being a deacon, helping Libby with her work with the internationals, planning events with the Roy Rhodes Sunday School class, or assisting with various special projects such as disaster relief efforts, Nap was active in the life of his church. Nap became a Rotarian in 1947 and was active in a club at each station during his career. Over the last 40 years, he was a member of the Rotary Club of Tallahassee Capital. Holding various leadership roles, he was involved with countless service projects such as setting up a Rotary camp for special needs children as well as starting other Rotary clubs in the area. In 1988-89, he was named “Rotarian of the Year” and in 1995-96 he was presented with the “Service Above Self” award.

Nap Ellis was predeceased by his sister, Elizabeth Ellis Bradford of Greenwood, S.C.; and by his brother, Thomas Baynard Ellis, III, of Columbia, S.C.

He is survived by his wife, Libby; by their sons, William Henry Napier Ellis, Jr. and his wife, Betty, of Greenville, SC and Corbin Woodward Ellis and his wife, Deon, of Tallahassee, FL; by their daughters, Mary Ellis McBride of Virginia Beach, VA and Julia “Julie” Anne McBride and her husband, Michael, of Tallahassee, FL.; and by their grandchildren, Lara Elisabeth McBride Harrison and her husband, Zach, of Killeen, TX, Anne Christine McBride of Lynchburg, VA., David Odom and his wife, Dawn, of Watertown, NY, Conor Patrick Napier McBride and Kathryn “Katy” Claire McBride of Tallahassee, FL..

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.