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Theodore ”Ted” R. Ellis, Jr.
06/04/1928 — 12/26/2003
From Richland, WA, US | Born in Andrews, North Carolina
Theodore ”Ted” R. Ellis, Jr.
Theodore ''Ted'' R. Ellis, Jr. passed away at home on December 26, 2003. He was born in Andrews, NC on June 4, 1928 to Lura and Theodore R. Ellis, Sr.
He was a member of the National Guard in Oak Ridge, TN, when he married Rosemary Good on August 12, 1950. He was called up for service in 1950 for the Korean War, where he served as a combat structural engineer until 1952. After an honorable discharge, he settled down in Richland and joined the Hanford Fire Department in 1952. He remained with the Hanford Fire Department, serving as a fire fighter, lieutenant, captain, battalion commander, and retiring in 1995 as a safety and logistics officer. He loved fire fighting - the men and women he worked with and for, and the public which he served. He always wanted to send a positive image about what he did and loved. Ted was respected by his coworkers, and after retirement continued to organize yearly lunches for other retirees. He was a friend to many, and always made himself available to those in need. He was proud of his five daughters and five grandchildren. He was an avid sports fan, especially of the Richland Bombers and the Tri-City Americans, of which he was a long-time season ticket holder. He loved working in his garden, spending hours in the spring and summer to grow beautiful roses, Gerber daisies, begonias, sunflowers, as well as cucumbers and tomatoes. Ted is survived by his wife of 53 years, Rosemary, his mother, Lura Prewitt and husband Eddie of Oak Ridge, TN, his sister Brenda Joiner of Oak Ridge, TN, and his niece Kelly Joiner of Orlando, FL. He is also survived by his very much loved daughters Theresa Smith and husband Brad of Wichita, KS, Mary Ellis of Richland, Julie Miller and husband Lance of Kennewick, Leslie Chenoweth and husband Keith of West Richland, and Rosemarie Davis and husband Scott of Kennewick. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Sarah Ellis and fiancé Eric Van Alstine of Richland, Andy Neland of Wichita, KS, Danielle Sullivan of Portland, OR, and Brad and Tyler Chenoweth of West Richland. He is preceded in death by is father Theodore R. Ellis Sr., his two sisters Hope and Phyllis, and his grandson Connor Sullivan. A vigil will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30 at Einan's Funeral Home in Richland.
I met Ted in 1952 at the Hanford Fire Depatment. We worked together for 12 years until I took another job. Ted took it upon himself to be the best firefighter possible.
Ted and I have been friends for over 50 years. We traveled to sporting events throughout the state supporting the Richland Bombers and golfed frequently in our younger years. Most recently, he enjoyed hockey games with his daughters and even drug me to a few.
Ted loved people. He was always the one to keep in touch with the people he worked with. Frequently, he would organize lunches with friends, mostly retired firemen. Every few weeks he and I would get together for lunch and lots of laughter. Ted valued the people in his life. He had a lot of friends because he was the kind of person everyone enjoyed being around. Ted was one of the finest men I’ve ever known. He loved his wife Rosemary and his daughters. He was proud of his family.
My sympathies to all of Ted’s family, to his wife Rosemary and his girls, Theresa, Mary, Julie, Leslie, Rosie and their families. Ted loved you all so much.
I has the pleasure of knowing Ted and his family for my entire life, it seems.
I remember Ted being such a good friend to my Dad, Vern Campbell. Over the past fourty-five 45plus years Ted always took time to keep in contact. He was always their for others all the time.
Once you had been blessed with meeting Ted, you would understand why he would be called a GREAT FRIEND.
May God continue to Bless Ted, give his family the understanding, peace and
confort to cope with the great loss of Ted. We will always remember this man in our hearts.
Ted was a good friend and neighbor. Always there to lend a helping hand. He was a dedicated firefighter.
We will miss him and send condolences to the family
Ted Ellis was a good friend and excellent employee of the Hanford Fire Department. We will all miss him.
Tom S Allen Deputy Chief Hanford Fire Department. Retired
My deepest sympathies to your family during this difficult time.
It was my privilege to have been able to work with Ted at the Hanford Fire Department for more than 5 years. As a newcomer to the world of the fire service, I could always go to Ted with my questions. He always made time for anyone who needed help.
We will all miss his kind, gentle spirit and delightful sense of humor. May God grant you the strength to bear your loss and the peace and comfort to ease your sorrow.
What can you say about a man who had to raise five daughters with only one bathroom? My dad was always proud of us girls, no matter how badly we screwed up. I hope he knows how proud each one of us was of him. I remember in grade school at Christ the King, when dad came in and brought juice for one of our parties. Instead of letting him leave, I introduced him to all of my friends, that this was MY dad. He taught us how to truly give at Christmas time, when the firemen would give presents to those who wouldn’t have a wonderful Christmas like we would. He was always there for us, whenever we needed him. But the most important thing he ever did for me, no matter how often I came to see him, before I would leave, he would always kiss me and tell me he loved me. I have no doubt that my father loved each and every one of his daughters and grandchildren, and I know in my heart that he knew that each and every one of us loved him. And when it comes down to that, you really can’t ask for more. I love you daddy.
I was fortunate to know Ted my entire life, as he and my father, Vern Campbell, first met back in the early 1950s while working at the Hanford Fire Department.
I will always remember that BIG smile Ted would flash when running into him out and about.
Ted was a carrying man, and definitely had a soft spot like no other. One of my favorite memories about Ted is when he stopped by the house one afternoon to see if my father wanted to go grab a bite to eat. Because my daughter, Nicole, was staying with my father that afternoon, Ted asked Nicole 4 years old at the time if she would like to join them. Of course she accepted, and they proceeded on to the restaurant for a sandwich so Ted and grandpa thought. Ted told Nicole lunch was on him and she could order anything she wanted. So, as Ted and grandpa ate their sandwiches, Nicole enjoyed her steak and potatoes! For the past 16 years, Ted and I have laughed over and over about that lunch date. Ted really got a kick out of that, but definitely kept his promise; Nicole got to order anything she wanted!
I will forever be grateful to Ted for the friend he was to our family, but even more so, for the friend he was to my father.
To Teds Family: My prayers are with you all during this time of sorrow. Always remember the lives he touched; something to be proud of!!
Cherri Campbell Harrington
There are some people God put on earth to remind us what caring and loving really means. Ted was surely one of those people.
I will always cherish the heartwarming memories I shared with Ted
he would take time out while in Seattle to stop by to check on me and always brought my children a gift or a chocolate bunny
the many lunches we shared when I would come to the Tri-Cities
my 50th birthday party
.the late night New Years Eve calls. Ted will be surely missed but not forgotten.
For Teds family may you know that my caring thoughts and heartfelt sympathy are with you.
Papa was a great man and when he told you he loved you, he meant it and it was easy to see that he wanted you to know. I never heard a bad word come from his mouth about anyone….except maybe about the animals, but I don’t think he ever really meant it. He was the most caring man I think I’ve ever known and he was always proud of his grandchildren, no exceptions. He was a wonderful grandfather and I will never forget him. I hope he knows how much he meant to me and that I will love him forever.
So nice getting to meet you and going out with you and your little sis’. We really had some great times. I know how much your baby sister loves you.
What fond memories we have of your visits to Tennessee! Hanging out, the pub crawls and just getting to know what a wonderful brother Brenda has. We will miss you and keep your family in our prayers.
My Uncle Ted taught me the importance of family. He was the most loyal man I have ever known. When he would visit for Bigmama’s birthday, he would wait up if I stayed out too late and I remember thinking I wished I had a father like him. I had the next best thing, a loving Uncle that always had a hug for me when I was down, or advice when I was confused, and a smile that I could never resist. I feel sympathy for anyone that never met him and joy for those that were, and always will be, loved by him. He will always be in my heart and I hope I made him as proud of me as I always was of him. He wasn’t “just an Uncle”, he was my friend. Your Niece, Kelly
To all of Teds family, he was the most wonderful kind and careing person I have ever met when he would come in to town to see his mother he always shared with us how all his family was doing and always talked and laughed about his grandchilder and the love he had for each and everone of you. You are very blessed. I am thankful the last time he was in he had dinner with Dave and my self on Dav’s Boat he love the boat and said when he came back he would love to do it again I love him and everything he stood for especially by putting his family first thank you for sharing him with us in Oakridge. I love you Ted Love Teresa Dave and children
To my son my first born I prayed to God to let me live to raise you and I am so thankful for all years God Let me Have you I remember so much and then. This has devastead me it is killing me but God know’s best and I know you are with him. I love youso much mother
If there was such a thing as a “quality control test” for unconditional love, I could’ve easily been the test for my father’s. Being his oldest daughter, I was “Miss Trial and Error”. Boy, did I put Dad through his paces! He is the epitome of unconditional love. I feel so blessed to have had him for my father. They don’t make ’em any better.
Dad, I love you and will miss you terribly. I know you were proud of me and loved me bunches. Thank you for all you’ve given me and taught me. You’ll always be in my heart.
Theresa
I want to express my love and sympathy to all the Ellis family during this time of grief and adjustment. I hope I can help in anyway I can.
I have been a neighbor of the Ellis’s for several years and the friendship extended to me by the family has been warm and touching.
Ted has been a true friend in every sense of the word. He did all the yardwork for both sides of our “A” house even though I thought my side should be my responsibility. It was gently expressed to me that if I did it, my side of the grass might be 1/16″ shorter or longer than his side and that just wouldn’t do. Needless to say, my appreciation to all the impecable attention my yard received went beyond any measure.
The yard was his domain and he had such enjoyment sharing with me whatever was blooming or producing under the care of his talented green thumbs. My gray thumbs were ever envious.
Ted as always there to remind me when to winterize and summerize the water systems, change my furnace filter,and any number of things he thought should be taken care of during the unpredictable year. If something went “wrong,” I could always depend on Ted to get the appropriate tools and lend a hand no matter what it was or when.
Ted’s sense of humor is not to be forgotten either. His big smile was always ready to break into a fullblown laugh. He was a joy to be around. His presence was a gift to all of us in so many wonderful ways.
His care of his special squirrels in the backyard always touched me because I loved watching them cavort around also. However, I also thought he liked the birds as well until I bought the most beautiful birdbath I could find for Father’s Day and presented it him knowing I had found the perfect gift. I soon found out that birdbaths attract birds which attact cats and cats also enjoy squirrels as a delicacy in their diet. Birds had their place but not in our backyard. It was discussed that one option was to turn it into a squirrel feeder until the ludicrous thought came to me that a 3′ squirrel feeder made the creatures even more vulnerable to the 25 cats in our neighborhood. The solution was putting the birdbath in the front yard drawing the birds away from the back yard so the cats would forget about the squirrels. It worked… most of the time. Training the squirrels to stay away from power transformers proved to be more difficult. In fact, down right futile.
I will miss Ted’s presence in my life for the rest of my life. We don’t often have the opportunity to meet men of Ted’s honor, integrity, patience, honesty, and deication to whatever he thought was right. He lived his life to leave it a better place and he accomplished that with everything he had to give us. I can only hope the future will give us men of his high convictions.
What a guy! What a gentleman! It was an honor and a joy to know him. I have been blessed.
With love and affection,
Kristi
Bro-I miss you all the time I will especially miss you on mommy’s Birthday. I am the only one left and you will always live in my heart and always in my mind you where my best friend love you Little SIS.
I met Ted in 1952 at the Hanford Fire Depatment. We worked together for 12 years until I took another job. Ted took it upon himself to be the best firefighter possible.
Ted and I have been friends for over 50 years. We traveled to sporting events throughout the state supporting the Richland Bombers and golfed frequently in our younger years. Most recently, he enjoyed hockey games with his daughters and even drug me to a few.
Ted loved people. He was always the one to keep in touch with the people he worked with. Frequently, he would organize lunches with friends, mostly retired firemen. Every few weeks he and I would get together for lunch and lots of laughter. Ted valued the people in his life. He had a lot of friends because he was the kind of person everyone enjoyed being around. Ted was one of the finest men I’ve ever known. He loved his wife Rosemary and his daughters. He was proud of his family.
My sympathies to all of Ted’s family, to his wife Rosemary and his girls, Theresa, Mary, Julie, Leslie, Rosie and their families. Ted loved you all so much.
I has the pleasure of knowing Ted and his family for my entire life, it seems.
I remember Ted being such a good friend to my Dad, Vern Campbell. Over the past fourty-five 45plus years Ted always took time to keep in contact. He was always their for others all the time.
Once you had been blessed with meeting Ted, you would understand why he would be called a GREAT FRIEND.
May God continue to Bless Ted, give his family the understanding, peace and
confort to cope with the great loss of Ted. We will always remember this man in our hearts.
Ted was a good friend and neighbor. Always there to lend a helping hand. He was a dedicated firefighter.
We will miss him and send condolences to the family
Ted Ellis was a good friend and excellent employee of the Hanford Fire Department. We will all miss him.
Tom S Allen Deputy Chief Hanford Fire Department. Retired
My deepest sympathies to your family during this difficult time.
It was my privilege to have been able to work with Ted at the Hanford Fire Department for more than 5 years. As a newcomer to the world of the fire service, I could always go to Ted with my questions. He always made time for anyone who needed help.
We will all miss his kind, gentle spirit and delightful sense of humor. May God grant you the strength to bear your loss and the peace and comfort to ease your sorrow.
What can you say about a man who had to raise five daughters with only one bathroom? My dad was always proud of us girls, no matter how badly we screwed up. I hope he knows how proud each one of us was of him. I remember in grade school at Christ the King, when dad came in and brought juice for one of our parties. Instead of letting him leave, I introduced him to all of my friends, that this was MY dad. He taught us how to truly give at Christmas time, when the firemen would give presents to those who wouldn’t have a wonderful Christmas like we would. He was always there for us, whenever we needed him. But the most important thing he ever did for me, no matter how often I came to see him, before I would leave, he would always kiss me and tell me he loved me. I have no doubt that my father loved each and every one of his daughters and grandchildren, and I know in my heart that he knew that each and every one of us loved him. And when it comes down to that, you really can’t ask for more. I love you daddy.
I was fortunate to know Ted my entire life, as he and my father, Vern Campbell, first met back in the early 1950s while working at the Hanford Fire Department.
I will always remember that BIG smile Ted would flash when running into him out and about.
Ted was a carrying man, and definitely had a soft spot like no other. One of my favorite memories about Ted is when he stopped by the house one afternoon to see if my father wanted to go grab a bite to eat. Because my daughter, Nicole, was staying with my father that afternoon, Ted asked Nicole 4 years old at the time if she would like to join them. Of course she accepted, and they proceeded on to the restaurant for a sandwich so Ted and grandpa thought. Ted told Nicole lunch was on him and she could order anything she wanted. So, as Ted and grandpa ate their sandwiches, Nicole enjoyed her steak and potatoes! For the past 16 years, Ted and I have laughed over and over about that lunch date. Ted really got a kick out of that, but definitely kept his promise; Nicole got to order anything she wanted!
I will forever be grateful to Ted for the friend he was to our family, but even more so, for the friend he was to my father.
To Teds Family: My prayers are with you all during this time of sorrow. Always remember the lives he touched; something to be proud of!!
Cherri Campbell Harrington
There are some people God put on earth to remind us what caring and loving really means. Ted was surely one of those people.
I will always cherish the heartwarming memories I shared with Ted
he would take time out while in Seattle to stop by to check on me and always brought my children a gift or a chocolate bunny
the many lunches we shared when I would come to the Tri-Cities
my 50th birthday party
.the late night New Years Eve calls. Ted will be surely missed but not forgotten.
For Teds family may you know that my caring thoughts and heartfelt sympathy are with you.
Papa was a great man and when he told you he loved you, he meant it and it was easy to see that he wanted you to know. I never heard a bad word come from his mouth about anyone….except maybe about the animals, but I don’t think he ever really meant it. He was the most caring man I think I’ve ever known and he was always proud of his grandchildren, no exceptions. He was a wonderful grandfather and I will never forget him. I hope he knows how much he meant to me and that I will love him forever.
So nice getting to meet you and going out with you and your little sis’. We really had some great times. I know how much your baby sister loves you.
What fond memories we have of your visits to Tennessee! Hanging out, the pub crawls and just getting to know what a wonderful brother Brenda has. We will miss you and keep your family in our prayers.
My Uncle Ted taught me the importance of family. He was the most loyal man I have ever known. When he would visit for Bigmama’s birthday, he would wait up if I stayed out too late and I remember thinking I wished I had a father like him. I had the next best thing, a loving Uncle that always had a hug for me when I was down, or advice when I was confused, and a smile that I could never resist. I feel sympathy for anyone that never met him and joy for those that were, and always will be, loved by him. He will always be in my heart and I hope I made him as proud of me as I always was of him. He wasn’t “just an Uncle”, he was my friend. Your Niece, Kelly
To all of Teds family, he was the most wonderful kind and careing person I have ever met when he would come in to town to see his mother he always shared with us how all his family was doing and always talked and laughed about his grandchilder and the love he had for each and everone of you. You are very blessed. I am thankful the last time he was in he had dinner with Dave and my self on Dav’s Boat he love the boat and said when he came back he would love to do it again I love him and everything he stood for especially by putting his family first thank you for sharing him with us in Oakridge. I love you Ted Love Teresa Dave and children
To my son my first born I prayed to God to let me live to raise you and I am so thankful for all years God Let me Have you I remember so much and then. This has devastead me it is killing me but God know’s best and I know you are with him. I love youso much mother
If there was such a thing as a “quality control test” for unconditional love, I could’ve easily been the test for my father’s. Being his oldest daughter, I was “Miss Trial and Error”. Boy, did I put Dad through his paces! He is the epitome of unconditional love. I feel so blessed to have had him for my father. They don’t make ’em any better.
Dad, I love you and will miss you terribly. I know you were proud of me and loved me bunches. Thank you for all you’ve given me and taught me. You’ll always be in my heart.
Theresa
I want to express my love and sympathy to all the Ellis family during this time of grief and adjustment. I hope I can help in anyway I can.
I have been a neighbor of the Ellis’s for several years and the friendship extended to me by the family has been warm and touching.
Ted has been a true friend in every sense of the word. He did all the yardwork for both sides of our “A” house even though I thought my side should be my responsibility. It was gently expressed to me that if I did it, my side of the grass might be 1/16″ shorter or longer than his side and that just wouldn’t do. Needless to say, my appreciation to all the impecable attention my yard received went beyond any measure.
The yard was his domain and he had such enjoyment sharing with me whatever was blooming or producing under the care of his talented green thumbs. My gray thumbs were ever envious.
Ted as always there to remind me when to winterize and summerize the water systems, change my furnace filter,and any number of things he thought should be taken care of during the unpredictable year. If something went “wrong,” I could always depend on Ted to get the appropriate tools and lend a hand no matter what it was or when.
Ted’s sense of humor is not to be forgotten either. His big smile was always ready to break into a fullblown laugh. He was a joy to be around. His presence was a gift to all of us in so many wonderful ways.
His care of his special squirrels in the backyard always touched me because I loved watching them cavort around also. However, I also thought he liked the birds as well until I bought the most beautiful birdbath I could find for Father’s Day and presented it him knowing I had found the perfect gift. I soon found out that birdbaths attract birds which attact cats and cats also enjoy squirrels as a delicacy in their diet. Birds had their place but not in our backyard. It was discussed that one option was to turn it into a squirrel feeder until the ludicrous thought came to me that a 3′ squirrel feeder made the creatures even more vulnerable to the 25 cats in our neighborhood. The solution was putting the birdbath in the front yard drawing the birds away from the back yard so the cats would forget about the squirrels. It worked… most of the time. Training the squirrels to stay away from power transformers proved to be more difficult. In fact, down right futile.
I will miss Ted’s presence in my life for the rest of my life. We don’t often have the opportunity to meet men of Ted’s honor, integrity, patience, honesty, and deication to whatever he thought was right. He lived his life to leave it a better place and he accomplished that with everything he had to give us. I can only hope the future will give us men of his high convictions.
What a guy! What a gentleman! It was an honor and a joy to know him. I have been blessed.
With love and affection,
Kristi
Bro-I miss you all the time I will especially miss you on mommy’s Birthday. I am the only one left and you will always live in my heart and always in my mind you where my best friend love you Little SIS.
I just learned of Teds going to the Lord.
I grew up near his home and knew his wonderful family all girls. As i visit my sister VAL on Mcpherson I look at Ted house often hoping to see someone outside.
I know you gref as Our Father also has gone to the lord in 2002.
Ted I love you where like a son to me and I don’t know what i’m going to do when I can’t haul you around love for ever Eddie
When I joined Hanford Fire,Ted was an officer at Station 3. I valued the information and advice that he gave to a new recruit. I always enjoyed his sense of humor and laughter. My sympathy to the cherished family of Ted. He will be missed by many.
Ron Clary
Guestbook for
Theodore ”Ted” R. Ellis, Jr.