Mr. Dale E. Ellis, 84, of Hamlet, IN, died Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at IU Health LaPorte Hospital.
He was born April 7, 1930, in Union Mills, IN, to John Burr Ellis and Lola (Stinchcomb) Ellis.
Dale had worked as an assembler for Allis-Chalmers in LaPorte, and had also been employed as an HVAC engineer with Control’d Engineering before establishing Ellis Ceramic Supply in Hamlet. Dale was a member of Tracy United Methodist Church.
Dale met the love of his life, Rita Pratt, in high school and they were married Aug. 26, 1949, in Hamlet. This August marks the 65th anniversary of that beautiful day. She survives.
He is also survived by five sons, David D. (Beth) Ellis of Naperville, IL, Donald E. (Mildred) Ellis of Medaryville, IN, Daniel R. (Peggi) Ellis of Downers Grove, IL, William L. (Roxanne) Ellis of Fish Lake, IN, and Scott A. Ellis of Joliet, IL; 12 grandchildren, Julie Ellis, Michael (Nicole) Ellis, Paul (Stephanie) Ellis, Steve (Paige) Ellis, Laura (Andrew) Freeman, Colleen (Zackery) Crandall, Mathew Ellis, Eric Ellis, John Ellis, Rachel (Eric) Murray, Denice Woolwine, and Toni Ellis; 17 great-grandchildren, Kelly, Anthony, Isabella, Nicolas, Kylie, Harrison, Alana, Spencer, Hunter, Cooper, and Charlotte Ellis, Drayke and Dexter Dirck, Lillian, Elliott and Benjamin Freeman, and Camden Murray; and brother-in-law, Ralph Schoof of Union Mills.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Charline Davis and Mary Annette Schoof; and three brothers, Winston, Charles and Rodney Ellis.
The family will receive friends at Haverstock Funeral Home and Cremation Services, LaPorte, on Friday, July 18, from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, July 19, from 1 to 2 p.m. A life celebration will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Ann Dill officiating. Interment will follow at Kingsbury Cemetery, Kingsbury, IN.
Memorial contributions may be made to Tracy United Methodist Church, 1702 U.S. 6 & 35, Hamlet, IN 46532.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.haverstockfuneralhome.com.