John Ellis

John Holderman Ellis, Colonel, USMC (Ret.), 94, of San Diego, CA, formerly of Kingston, died at peace in the early morning of April 16, 2012, at St. Paul's Villa, San Diego, CA, where he had resided for three years. Col. Ellis was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jane Wilson Ellis, originally of Kings Mills; his parents, A. Dane and Helen Holderman Ellis, of Kingston; and by his brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Betty Glee Ellis, also of Kingston. He is survived by his nephew, Tim Ellis, of Kingston; a niece, Sheree Robinson, of Osceola, AR; a cousin, John Harman, of Greensburg, PA and their families; dear friends, Eleanor Neely and Charles MacVean, of San Diego, and Joyce Camp and Susan Jones, of Montana. John was remarkably personable and proudly flirtatious but that lightness of heart was paired with intense dedication to those things which mattered most to him: the historical study of San Diego, particularly the archeological study of the Presidio; the docent program at Cabrillo National Monument; his and Jane's alma mater, Miami University, Oxford, OH; and his revered Marine Corps, by whose standards he judged his own performance and the performance of those around him. John and Jane continued to reside in San Diego after his 1967 retirement from active duty in the Marine Corp. Although he also served during the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts, he was singularly proud of his association with Third JASCO, of which he was commanding officer during the assault landings on Guam and Iwo Jima in World War II. For his performance during the Guam campaign he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medals. John grew up in Kingston, where his ashes will be laid to rest beside Jane and near his family at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Graveside services, conducted by Haller Funeral Home, Rev. Harman and the Ross Co. Veterans Honor Guard, will be held 11:00 am Saturday, October 27, 2012. A memorial service was held in San Diego, CA, May 10, 2012. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's favorite charity in his honor.
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