Rodger Thomas Ellis, 72, of Lynchburg, was called home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 1, 2014. He was the husband of Gwendolyn Jean Metcalfe Ellis.
Born on June 11, 1942, Rodger was the son of the late William Thomas Ellis and the late Ruth Middleton Williams Ellis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Lynn Ellis Thurmond.
In addition to his wife, Rodger is survived by three children: Rodger Madden Ellis of Los Angeles CA, Ginger Lynne Ellis of Austin TX, and Ross Brooks Ellis and his wife, Noemi Velez Ellis of Lynchburg; two siblings: Karen Jean Ellis McGee of Dallas TX, and Gilbert William Ellis and his wife, Cynthia Burch Ellis of Edinburg TX; brother-in-law, George Robert Thurmond of Austin TX; and three grandchildren: Esther Estrella Ellis, Erik Brooks Ellis, and Emma Maria Ellis.
Rodger was a graduate of Texas A&M University and the Master of Divinity Program at Liberty University. Retired, his current ministries included work with The Salvation Army and Green Rock Correctional Center. On five separate occasions, it was Rodger’s great joy to travel to Burundi, Africa, to work with Allow the Children Ministries, where he taught in the Pastors’ Bible School at the Kigobe Mission in Bujumbura. Rodger was a member and Deacon of Timberlake Baptist Church and a United States Marine Corps. veteran.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11:00 am Saturday, December 6, 2014, in Timberlake Baptist Church with Pastor Bryan Ferrell officiating. Interment with military honors will be at a later date in Culpeper National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Rodger’s name to: Allow the Children Ministries Burundi, P.O. Box 15039, Lynchburg, VA, 24502-9004.
Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424, and to send condolences please go to www.obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.