Obituary of Franklin C. Ellis

Franklin "Hank" C. Ellis Franklin C. “Hank” Ellis Franklin C. “Hank” Ellis, age 94, of Buckhannon, WV, died Thursday, October 29, 2015 at Louis A. Johnson V.A. Medical Center in Clarksburg, WV. He was born August 18, 1921 in Bluefield, WV, a son of the late James Lake and Mona C. Colley Ellis. On March 24, 1945 he married Ruth Alice Sherrard who preceded him in death on October 26, 2009. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one brother, James Lake Ellis, and a son in law, Jimmie Green. He is survived by one son, Frank Ellis and wife Traci of Buckhannon; two daughters, Cheri Green of Buckhannon and Jeanne Zickefoose and husband Gary of Bridgeport, WV; five grandsons, Clint Green and wife Aimee, Jon Green and wife Holly and Frank Ellis all of Buckhannon, Greg Zickefoose and wife Maggie of National Harbor, MD and Brian Zickefoose and wife Kimberly of Lancaster, PA; three granddaughters, Mindi McGrew and husband Jason of Hurricane, WV, Shelli Lantz and husband Eric and Olivia Ellis all of Buckhannon; eight great-grandsons, Jack, Mitch and Rhett McGrew all of Hurricane, Barett Zickefoose of Lancaster, Jimmie and Julian Green, Mason and Clay Lantz all of Buckhannon and six great-granddaughters, Madison, Delaney and Cheridyn Green and Ava Lantz all of Buckhannon and Brianna and Meara Zickefoose both of Lancaster. Mr. Ellis served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1942 until he retired in 1967 as a Lieutenant Commander. He was the Commanding Officer on the USS LCT 710 from May of 1944 through March of 1945 where he carried cargo from large ships to and across the Beaches of Normandy. He made the D-Day landing on Utah Beach, Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. In June of 1945, he was the Gunnery Officer on the USS LCI 728 in Pearl Harbor, HI. Mr. Ellis returned to Normandy for the 20th Reunion of D-Day, in 1964, the 50th Reunion in 1994, and the 60th Reunion in 2004. In 2015, he was awarded the French Legion Medal of Honor by the French government. Hank graduated from BUHS in 1939, received his Bachelor’s Degree from WVWC in 1943, and a Master’s Degree from WVU in 1947. Mr. Ellis was a professional basketball player for the Wheeling Blues from 1947-1950 and was a member of the U.S. Olympic Basketball Committee from 1969 until 1972. He coached and taught at Martin’s Ferry High School in 1949 before becoming a coach and professor of health and P.E. at WVWC from 1950-1990. He was the head basketball with 303 career wins, the head baseball coach with 298 career wins, and the head cross country coach as well as the Athletic Director at WVWC. On April 30, 1986, the baseball field at WVWC was named after Coach Hank Ellis. Hank was inducted into the BU Sports Hall of Fame, the WV Sports Hall of Fame, and the WVWC Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Ellis was a life member of the VFW Post #3663, a member of Frank B. Bartlett Post # 7 American Legion, Franklin Lodge # 7 AF & AM with a Master Mason 50 year pin and the Buckhannon Lions Club with a 50 year pin. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in Buckhannon, WV. The family would like to give a special thanks to his caregivers Ann Shearer, Nancy Humphries, Linda Cowger, the staff at St. Joseph’s NCF, and the staff on the 6th Floor at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. Friends will be received Friday, November 6, 2015 from 3-9 PM at the Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of WVWC. A funeral service will be held 1 PM Saturday at Wesley Chapel on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College with the Rev. LeRoy Jones and the Rev. Ronald McCauley officiating. Burial will follow in the Heavner Cemetery in Buckhannon. The Upshur Honor Guard will conduct Military Honors at the graveside. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Hank Ellis Scholarship Fund c/o WVWC. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation Friday, November 6, 2015 3-9 PM Wesleyan Performing Arts Center Funeral Service Saturday, November 7, 2015 1 PM Wesley Chapel Burial Heavner Cemetery