William J. McEllroy Jr.

A native of Allentown, Captain McEllroy was the son of William John McEllroy, Sr. and Lillian M. (Frederick) McEllroy. He was a graduate of Dieruff High School, Allentown; Moravian College, Bethlehem; Evangelical Seminary, Myerstown; and the Navy Chaplain School, Newport R.I. He was an ordained minister in the Evangelical Congregational Church since from 1973 until 2016, having pastored congregations in Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Lebanon counties. He retired from the pastorate in 2016 after 29 years of faithful service as pastor of St. John’s E.C. Church, Steelstown, Lebanon County, PA.

Entering the Navy Reserve in 1980, Chaplain McEllroy served on active duty from 1984 to 1987 as chaplain for US Marine Corps commands aboard Camp LeJeune, NC. There he participated in deployments to the Caribbean and the Artic Circle, as well as serving as chaplain and training with the FBI and Navy Seals. His reserve assignments included numerous Marine and Navy units including serving as the commanding officer for the Marine Expeditionary Force Religious Unit 106 in Washington DC. Captain McEllroy was mobilized to active duty in 1991 during Desert Storm and on September 2001 to the Pentagon following the 9/11 attacks to help with the recovery there. After over 25 years of honorable service to the Nation, he retired from the US Navy on January 1st 2006. After retirement he was heavily involved in local veterans groups and was a life member of the Military Chaplains Association (plank owner of its Susquehanna Chapter); the Military Officers Association of America; Disabled American Veterans; the American Legion; the Marine Corps League; Navy Club USA Ship 91 (as Chaplain); Lancaster MOOA chapter; and Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Memorial Council. He was often seen providing pastoral care at veteran funerals and speaking at memorial day events in Lebanon County.

Captain McEllroy is survived by his loving wife of more than 52 years, Judith McEllroy, also from Allentown; his two sisters, Sharon L., wife of Drew Wesnak, of Whitehall and Pamela A., wife of David Schiaffo, of Emmaus; his three children: William McEllroy, III, a police chief in Berks County; Commander Jonathan McEllroy, Iraq war veteran and retired Naval Aviator; and Rebecca Ill, a dairy farmer in Manheim, as well as his nine grandchildren: Grace, Christopher, Matthew, Lia, Abbey, Jane, Enora, Graham, and Zhao.

Funeral services will be scheduled as soon as possible and information will be updated here as well as promulgated to both Zion EC Church in Annville, of which he was a member, and St. John’s EC Church in Steelstown.

Affectionately known as “Bill”, he will be forever remembered as Brother, Dad, Husband, Grandpa, Friend, and Chaplain. His love for the Lord and making the good news of Jesus known to the world will be his legacy.

Fair winds and following seas on your way home to the Lord...

"The celebration of life service will be held 7 Apr 2025 at Zion EC Church, 710 S White Oak St, Annville, PA 17003. Visitation begins at 9:30am and the service begins at 10:30am.