Obituaries

William F. Ellis

March 3, 1927 - January 7, 2023

Service Date: January 13, 2023

Obituary
William “Bill” Foster Ellis, 95, of West Pittston, passed away in the embrace of family and into the arms of our Lord after a sudden ailment early Saturday morning, January 7, 2023, in Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Born on March 3, 1927, in Scranton, PA, the son of the late Reginald “Reggie” and Elsie Foster Ellis of West Pittston, Bill led a long and unusually useful life, actively engaged in family, nature, science, music and history. He was widely admired in his church and community right up until his last day.
Bill graduated from West Pittston High School in 1944; Bucknell University Junior College (now Wilkes University) and Bliss Electrical School in Washington, DC.
Bill’s career began as an engineer in 1950 at the United States Department of Defense, Defense Logistics Agency in South Philadelphia, where he walked to and from work for 30 years. Bill retired in 1980 with distinguished honors and special recognitions, and returned to West Pittston with his wife and two young sons that year.

In younger years, alongside his dad Reggie, Bill worked as a volunteer firefighter with the West Pittston Hose Company #1 and a volunteer with the West Pittston Ambulance Company. Bill also worked at the United States Post Office in Pittston as a mailman during that time.
Bill was an active, longstanding member of Our Lady of the Eucharist Parish in Pittston, PA.
Bill’s top priority was his deep love for his family, and he enjoyed every moment with them. Bill always demonstrated his trademark smile, sense of humor, intelligence, humility, attentiveness, patience, resourcefulness, strong work ethic and immeasurable energy.
Bill’s love of photography and vast knowledge of trains, trolleys and their history in and beyond our region was conveyed in lectures and countless authorship contributions to railroading books and various publications. Bill sponsored many trolley trips and railroad tours. His photography is noted for its unique artistic and historic value.
Bill loved the outdoors and was an avid gardener who spent countless hours enjoying, working in, and tending to his gardens.
Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Beatrice, West Pittston; children, Paul, in Philadelphia, PA and Daniel and wife Amy Koop, in San Francisco, CA; brothers-in-law Joseph Startare, FL and Jim Startare and wife Palmina, Philadelphia, PA and nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Jan. 13th at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Eucharist Church, 535 N. Main St., Pittston PA. All are asked to go directly to the church on the day of the service. Condolences may be shared from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Interment to follow in West Pittston Cemetery, Susquehanna Ave., West Pittston. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Eucharist Church, 535 N. Main St., Pittston, PA 18640.

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