Charles D. "Buddy" Ellis

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth... Put out my hand and touched the face of God." Charles D. "Buddy" Ellis, born 80 years ago in Richmond, Virginia, died Wednesday, June 2, 2004. He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret (Poaguey) Ellis; and is survived by his daughter, Charlotte Ellis of Raleigh, N.C.; his son and daughter-in-law, Andy Ellis and Cristie Dowda of Ashland; and his grandson, Graham Ellis of Midlothian. Buddy joined the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served his country as a pilot in both World War II and the Korean War and was awarded both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Five Bronze Stars. Honorably discharged from the service in 1951, he remained a reservist in the Marines until retiring as a major in 1964. Following his military career, Buddy was a fixture in the Richmond advertising and broadcast community working for WXEX-TV (now WRIC), Long Advertising, WWBT-12, and Continental Cablevision. Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to Daytona Beach, Fla., where he served on the board of the Pelican Bay Homeowners Association. For the last two years, his home was Sunrise of Raleigh in North Carolina. His family is tremendously grateful to the administration and staff of Sunrise for the remarkable care he received there as he battled Alzheimer's Disease. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 12 at 2 p.m. at College Church Cemetery in Hampden-Sydney, Va. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Children's Hospital of Richmond, Development Office, 2924 Brook Road, Richmond, Va. 23220.