James Brown Ellis, Sr. (Jim), of Martinsburg, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 12, 2015, at the Martinsburg VA Medical Center.
Born July 12, 1926 in Hedgesville, he was the son of the late Boyd Ellis, Sr. and Mary Lee Brown Ellis.
He was a member of the Little Falls Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Choir Member, Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Elder, a member of the Session, and Chairman of the Building Fund.
Jim graduated from Hedgesville High School in 1944 and quickly joined the ranks of the U.S. Army. He was a veteran U.S. Army Corporal, serving as a Wireless Radio Operator and Morse Code Specialist during WWII. He was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone and other areas.
He held many positions in the automobile industry, some of which were the Service Station Manager at Barkhouser Motors, Shop Foreman at Ott Motors, and Service Manager for 32 years at the Frederick Motor Company Ford Dealership where he was known as “O.J. Hammer.” His continued education and strong work ethic earned him many awards including the Medallion Manager Award. He also taught Auto Mechanics at James Rumsey Vocational Technical Center.
Jim was an avid reader and always held a strong belief in God, family, and his country; he was proud to be raised in our local community. The Track and Field Record Board at Spring Mills High School was recently dedicated in his honor.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Pauline Mae Hess Ellis; son, James Brown Ellis, Jr., and wife Diane of Hertford, NC; daughters, Linda F. Taylor and husband, Robert; and Brenda K. Arndt and husband, Jeff, of Martinsburg, WV; and son, Christopher A. Ellis, and wife Trina of Harrisonburg, VA; ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Dorothy Lee Ellis Shickle of Hedgesville, WV, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles L. and Boyd Ellis, Jr,: and a sister, Mary Lou Knotts.
Services will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, July 16 at Little Falls Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Deborah Barnett officiating. Interment with military honors will be held at Rosedale Cemetery.
Family will receive friends from 6-8pm on Wednesday, July 15 at Brown Funeral Home in Martinsburg, WV.
Memorial contributions can be made to Little Falls Presbyterian Church, 6788 Williamsport Pike, Falling Waters, WV 25419.
Online condolences may be offered at www.BrownFuneralHomesWV.com.
Special thanks to District of Columbia Fisher House and Dr. James (Mark) Battin at the Martinsburg VA Center.

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