1924
Robert
2015
Robert Douglas Ellett
August 20, 1924 — February 23, 2015
Robert Douglas Ellett, 90, died on Monday, February 23, 2015 in Lynchburg, VA. Born on August 20, 1924, he grew up in downtown Lynchburg, became an Eagle Scout and graduated from E.C. Glass High School. Mr. Ellett attended Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on a scholarship, leaving temporarily to serve in WWII (Pacific) and returning to graduate in the class of 1949C with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.
Mr. Ellett married Mary Sweeney Ellett in 1951. Shortly thereafter, he was called again to military service in the Korean War. After his service, they settled in Lynchburg where Mr. Ellett worked for women’s apparel manufacturer Duti-Duds Inc. He became president of the company in 1967. A lifelong, active civic leader, Mr. Ellett served on the governing boards of the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce, Lynchburg General Marshall Lodge Hospital (now part of Centra Health), the Kiwanis Club and Court Street United Methodist Church. He also was a Boy Scout master, served on the boards of Family Services and the Red Cross and faithfully drove a van for Meals on Wheels weekly for many years.
He sailed at Smith Mt. Lake, rode horses with the Bedford County Hunt and played tennis nearly all his life – still playing doubles at 80. Mr. Ellett was a superb gardener and bonsai enthusiast, developing an extensive bonsai garden in his later years.
Mr. Ellett was predeceased by his wife Mary Ellett and by his sister Louise Ellett Cobb. He is survived by his three children, Martha L. Ellett of Alexandria, VA, Jane R. Gordon and her husband Baxter and James T. Ellett and his wife Tracy, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother-in-law the Hon. W.W. “Bill” Sweeney (Nada) and sister-in-law Patricia “Pat” Shahrokhi (Farshid).
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, February 27, 2015 at Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 28 at 11 am at Court Street United Methodist Church in Lynchburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Court Street United Methodist Church in Lynchburg; the VMI Foundation Fund, P.O. Box 932, Lexington,VA 24450 www.VMI.EDU.CAMPAIGN or to the National Bonsai Foundation Inc., Washington DC 20002 www.bonsai.nbf.org (a tax exempt organization supporting the collections at the U.S. Arboretum).
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Mr. Ellett married Mary Sweeney Ellett in 1951. Shortly thereafter, he was called again to military service in the Korean War. After his service, they settled in Lynchburg where Mr. Ellett worked for women’s apparel manufacturer Duti-Duds Inc. He became president of the company in 1967. A lifelong, active civic leader, Mr. Ellett served on the governing boards of the Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce, Lynchburg General Marshall Lodge Hospital (now part of Centra Health), the Kiwanis Club and Court Street United Methodist Church. He also was a Boy Scout master, served on the boards of Family Services and the Red Cross and faithfully drove a van for Meals on Wheels weekly for many years.
He sailed at Smith Mt. Lake, rode horses with the Bedford County Hunt and played tennis nearly all his life – still playing doubles at 80. Mr. Ellett was a superb gardener and bonsai enthusiast, developing an extensive bonsai garden in his later years.
Mr. Ellett was predeceased by his wife Mary Ellett and by his sister Louise Ellett Cobb. He is survived by his three children, Martha L. Ellett of Alexandria, VA, Jane R. Gordon and her husband Baxter and James T. Ellett and his wife Tracy, as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother-in-law the Hon. W.W. “Bill” Sweeney (Nada) and sister-in-law Patricia “Pat” Shahrokhi (Farshid).
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, February 27, 2015 at Tharp Funeral Home in Lynchburg. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 28 at 11 am at Court Street United Methodist Church in Lynchburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Court Street United Methodist Church in Lynchburg; the VMI Foundation Fund, P.O. Box 932, Lexington,VA 24450 www.VMI.EDU.CAMPAIGN or to the National Bonsai Foundation Inc., Washington DC 20002 www.bonsai.nbf.org (a tax exempt organization supporting the collections at the U.S. Arboretum).
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