Charles Richard Ellis

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Charles Richard Ellis, who departed life peacefully surrounded by his family on February 15th, 2026, at the age of 101. Dick was born on August 1, 1924, in Covington, IN., to Lloyd and Margaret Ellis and resided in Loon Lake the past six years. Dick was a man of wisdom, kindness, and unwavering guidance. He is united in Heaven with his predeceased family members.

Dick was a dedicated husband to Janet, his loving wife of 80 years, and a devoted father to Sandra (Steve) Gothard and John (Marsha Baxter) Ellis. He was a proud grandfather of four children, Stephen (Joseph Konrad) Gothard, Christina (Jasen) Lawrence, Bryan (Meredith) Ellis, and Trevor (Sophie) Ellis, and five great-grandchildren.

Dick was a graduate of Veedersburg High School, IN., Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN, and received an M.A. Degree in Educational Administration from Indiana State University in 1948. Additional graduate work was completed at the University of Illinois, University of Chicago, and Illinois Institute of Technology.

Dick was inducted into the U.S. Navy V-12 program in 1943 serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre on board the U.S.S. ADMIRAL R. E. COONTZ (AP-122) and honorably discharged in 1958.

He began his career in education at Veedersburg High School and Woodstock Jr. High School, Woodstock, IL before moving to Lyons Twp. High School (LTHS), LaGrange, IL in 1951. At LTHS he served as a mathematics teacher, class counselor, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent before retiring in 1985. His educational philosophy was to make learning the central enterprise of school while building a spirit of community where learning thrives and the growth of each student is encouraged to the fullest.

Dick was a member of the LaGrange, IL Rotary Club dedicating himself to “Service Above Self”, serving as Club President and recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. He and Janet spent many wonderful retirement years in Bloomington, IL, Hinsdale, IL, Oro Valley, AZ, and the Adirondacks. They loved their travels with their Airstream and making new friends wherever they traveled.

A family gathering to celebrate Dick’s life will take place in the spring with location to be determined. Donations in Dick’s memory can be made to the charity of your choice. The family offers many thanks and gratitude to all who cared for Dick and those who continue to care for Janet and the family through their prayers and support.

II Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

In the words of C. S. Lewis. ”‘To believe that what was true of Our Lord is, in its less degree, true of all who are in Him. They go away in order to be with us in a new way, even closer than before.’ ….. He seems, in some indefinable way, to be all around us now. I do not doubt he is doing and will do for us all sorts of things he could not have done while in the body."

From: The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II