Dr. Howard Eber Ellis,Ph.D., succumbed to death from cancer on March 12, 2009.
Dr. Ellis was born on December 14, 1920 in Toledo, Ohio to Clara Janney Ellis and Eber Ellis. They soon moved to a small town, Dundee Michigan to take over the family farm. Howard was a typical farm boy and grew up taking classes in a one room school house taught by his mother.
After graduation, he started at Albion College and later moved to master's work at the University of Michigan when WWII broke out. Howard served in the Army and was stationed in Ft. Benning, GA. After the war, he returned to school at the University of Michigan.
While he was working on his doctorate in music performance, history and education, he met and married Barbara Phyllis Horner. They were married in 1948 and produced two daughters, Cynthia and Diane Ellis.
Howard was the Director of Music Education at Grinnell College from 1950 until 1955 when he came to Wichita State University as Associate Dean for Fine Arts. He remained in that position until 1985 when he retired. Dr. Ellis is one of few professors who has an endowed scholarship for music.
Dr. Ellis was preceeded in death by his wife of 52 years, Barbara.
He leaves behind two daughters, Dr. Cynthia Ellis-Stoll (Samson Stoll), Diane E. McCullough, and a grand-daughter, Abigail E. McCullough.
Memorials may be sent to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice or to the Howard Ellis Memorial Scholarship Fund at Wichita State University.
Visitation is on Sunday, March 14, from 1-4 p.m., at Old Mission Funeral Home. A memorial will be held at 2 p.m., on Monday, March 15, at Old Mission Funeral Home.