-- Fred Willard Ellis, age 95, passed away Thursday, April 19, 2018. He was born on June 14, 1922 in Beloit, Wisconsin. He was the son of the late William Arthur and Frances Ellis. His father was stationed in NY harbor during WWI and while there studied aeronautical engineering at Colombia University. After the war, his father was a mailman in Beloit. His mother, Frances Ellis, was a schoolteacher.Fred was part of the Greatest Generation and served in the European Theater for the U.S. Army in the 44th Division 7th Army during WWII. Following the war he attended the University of Minnesota where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1948. His started his career as chief engineer in Richmond, Virginia, before moving onto Bay City Foundry in Bay City, Michigan, and Hamilton Foundry in Hamilton, Ohio. Fred concluded his career as Vice President of Sales for Climax Molybdenum. He is preceded in death by his wife Helen Clitherow Ellis, his sister, Martha, and granddaughter Jessica Ann Ellis (daughter of Steve Ellis).Fred is survived by his five children, Joan of Bethesda, Maryland; Lynn of Livingston Manor, New York; Steve and wife Linda of Beaver Creek, Oregon; Joel of Temecula, California; Fred Jr and wife Kim of Keller, Texas; as well as 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11a.m. Sunday, April 22 at Jacksons Grove United Methodist Church in Landrum, SC with Rev. Michael Bowers officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military rites conducted by the Polk County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard.
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