Paul R. Ellis

Paul R. Ellis died in Abilene, Texas on October 6, 2009. Mr. Ellis was born in Quincy Illinois to Lucian and Alta Mae Ellis on December 10, 1921. His one elder brother, Lucian, died during World War II. Mr. Ellis graduated from the United Sates Military Academy at Westpoint in 1943 and immediately entered the war as a member of the Army Corps of Engineers, serving as a paratrooper in the South Pacific, and being one of the first officers to enter Japan at the conclusion of hostilities with that country. He then served at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico as a part of an elite group of Army officers charged with managing the reorganized Manhattan Project, the Army's nuclear weapons program. Following this he earned an MS at Harvard. Mr. Ellis later served in the occupation forces in Heidelberg, Germany. Before entering civilian life in 1955, Mr. Ellis attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was the recipient of the Bronze and Silver Stars. Mr. Ellis's career in business management took him his family to many locations: Albuquerque, New Mexico; Chevy Chase, Maryland; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; London, England; and Houston, Texas. He retired with his wife Phyllis to Temple, Texas where he was a member of First Baptist Church, taught elementary school, and volunteered with Gideon International. In June, 2008 he moved once more with his wife to Abilene, Texas to be near his youngest daughter. An avid lover of reading and history, his greatest passion was Bible study, and he loved to teach Sunday school throughout his life. His love of the Lord and the Word God was the greatest legacy he left his family. Mr. Ellis is survived by his wife, Phyllis Harris Ellis; by his youngest daughter Debbie Ellis Frazee, her husband Dr. Richard Frazee, and their children Katie, Paul and Jack of Abilene; and by his second daughter June Ellis Cuming, her husband Dr. Reid Cuming, and their children Reid, Colin and Cameron of Houston. Mr. Ellis was preceded in death by his oldest daughter, Felicia Ann Ellis. A graveside service with military honors will take place at the Sunset Memorial Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico at 3 p.m. on October 10, 2009. Memorials may be made in honor of Mr. Ellis to: Gideon International, P.O. Box 7361, Abilene, Texas 79608.