He was born January 6, 1923 in Cumby, Hopkins County, Texas to Ellie Warren Gunnels and Velma Gladys McClelland Gunnels. He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years Evelyn, and three children, Stephen Hugh Gunnels, Martha Jean Gunnels Germick and Philip Eugene Gunnels, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas, Texas in 1940 and enrolled in the class of 1944 engineering school, Texas A&M. The entire class of 1944 enlisted in the U. S. Military in their junior year. Ellis served his country proudly during WWII in the Field Artillery Replacement Training Center, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After the war Ellis and Evelyn returned to College Station to complete his degree, which he received in 1947.
Ellis began a long, rewarding career with Texaco at the Port Arthur Refinery as a power engineer where he settled down and started his family. After a transfer to the Marketing Department Ellis was given assignments of increasing responsibility, finally becoming Vice President of Marketing USA a role in which he served until his retirement in 1987.
In retirement Ellis and Evelyn enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas, spending time in Galveston and at their cabin hideaway in the mountains of New Mexico. They have enjoyed a close relationship with their children and grandchildren, taking them on about ten Caribbean cruises making many treasured memories.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars.
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