Charles Maurice Ellis
Charles Maurice "Charlie" Ellis, 86, formerly of Boone, died peacefully on June 15th, 2012 in Tucson, AZ.
Born December 16, 1925 in Muncie, IN, Charlie was a 1944 graduate of South Side High School in Fort. Wayne, IN. He enlisted in the Navy that year and was an Aviation Cadet at Navy Pre-Flight School in Athens, GA when WWII ended. He earned a BSME from Indiana Technical College in 1951. Charlie married Delores 'Rusty' Martin in Ft. Wayne, IN in 1952. Charlie relocated the family to Charlotte, NC in 1964, where he worked as a mechanical engineer for American Hoist, and later for Jack's Cookie Corporation. He shifted his career to physical plant operations in the University of NC system in the early 1970's. He held positions in that capacity at UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, and finally at Appalachian State University in Boone, where he retired as Director of Physical Plant Operations in 1995.
Charlie was an avid runner in retirement, competing in Senior Games events around the country and winning many awards. He enjoyed folk and old-time music, which Rusty performed with friends at area fiddle festivals and informal gatherings at home. His hobbies included woodworking, home brewing, and just puttering around the house. He cherished visits from his grandchildren most of all.
Charlie and Rusty moved from Boone back to Charlotte in 2001, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. In 2008, they moved to Tucson, AZ, where Charlie had competed in the National Senior Games years earlier, and where their son's family now resides.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Rusty; their children, Katie Jacks (Dan) of Charlotte, NC, Cindy Lisewski (Ric) of Havelock, NC, and Chip Ellis (Della) of Tucson, AZ; their grandchildren, Aaron Jacks, Rebekah Jacks, Sarah Jacks, Anna Weih, and David Jacks of Charlotte, NC, Ryan Lisewski of New Bern, NC, Reed Ellis and Jane Ellis of Tucson, AZ;, their great-grandchildren, Anneliese Weih, Miriam Weih, and Alanna Lisewski; his sisters, Mildred Meyers and Phyllis Geary of Ft. Wayne, IN; and several nieces and nephews. Charlie was pre-deceased by his parents, Dewey Jenkins Ellis and Altha Garrett Ellis, and his brother, Donald Ellis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North Carolina Senior Games (ncseniorgames.org), the Marilyn Meacham Price Scholarship Fund c/o the Charlotte Folk Music Society (folksociety.org), or a charity of choice. Please leave thoughts on Charlie's guest-book at http://www.dignitymemorial.com.
Born December 16, 1925 in Muncie, IN, Charlie was a 1944 graduate of South Side High School in Fort. Wayne, IN. He enlisted in the Navy that year and was an Aviation Cadet at Navy Pre-Flight School in Athens, GA when WWII ended. He earned a BSME from Indiana Technical College in 1951. Charlie married Delores 'Rusty' Martin in Ft. Wayne, IN in 1952. Charlie relocated the family to Charlotte, NC in 1964, where he worked as a mechanical engineer for American Hoist, and later for Jack's Cookie Corporation. He shifted his career to physical plant operations in the University of NC system in the early 1970's. He held positions in that capacity at UNC Chapel Hill, UNC Charlotte, and finally at Appalachian State University in Boone, where he retired as Director of Physical Plant Operations in 1995.
Charlie was an avid runner in retirement, competing in Senior Games events around the country and winning many awards. He enjoyed folk and old-time music, which Rusty performed with friends at area fiddle festivals and informal gatherings at home. His hobbies included woodworking, home brewing, and just puttering around the house. He cherished visits from his grandchildren most of all.
Charlie and Rusty moved from Boone back to Charlotte in 2001, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. In 2008, they moved to Tucson, AZ, where Charlie had competed in the National Senior Games years earlier, and where their son's family now resides.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Rusty; their children, Katie Jacks (Dan) of Charlotte, NC, Cindy Lisewski (Ric) of Havelock, NC, and Chip Ellis (Della) of Tucson, AZ; their grandchildren, Aaron Jacks, Rebekah Jacks, Sarah Jacks, Anna Weih, and David Jacks of Charlotte, NC, Ryan Lisewski of New Bern, NC, Reed Ellis and Jane Ellis of Tucson, AZ;, their great-grandchildren, Anneliese Weih, Miriam Weih, and Alanna Lisewski; his sisters, Mildred Meyers and Phyllis Geary of Ft. Wayne, IN; and several nieces and nephews. Charlie was pre-deceased by his parents, Dewey Jenkins Ellis and Altha Garrett Ellis, and his brother, Donald Ellis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North Carolina Senior Games (ncseniorgames.org), the Marilyn Meacham Price Scholarship Fund c/o the Charlotte Folk Music Society (folksociety.org), or a charity of choice. Please leave thoughts on Charlie's guest-book at http://www.dignitymemorial.com.