John Wilburn Ellis, 88, of McLeansboro died at 6:10 a.m. Monday, February 26, 2001, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon.
He had worked as a prison guard for the Menard Correctional Center in Chester.
He was born on March 25, 1912 in Walpole, Illinois, the son of John Newton and Lennie (Pribble) Ellis. He married "Lessie" (Corn) Ellis on May 25, 1930.
He attended Hebron Presbyterian Church and New Salem Baptist Church.
He was a member of Polk Lodge 137 F & AM, 32 Degree Scottish Rite Bodies, Ainad Temple Shriners, Eastern Star No. 702, past worthy patron of Walpole Eastern Star and past master of the Walpole and McLeansboro Masonic Lodges.
Surviving are his wife, “Lessie”; four sons, Robert N. of Webster, Florida, Maurice of Belgrade, Missouri, Phillip E. of Godfrey and Gerry of McLeansboro; a sister, Sarah Porter of Broughton; a brother, Ray of Rock Falls; 18 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2001 at Harre Funeral Home. Rev. Alan Monroe officiated. Burial was in Hebron Cemetery near Walpole.
He was preceded in death by parents, two brothers, and two sisters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children.