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Dr Wilbur Pierce “Doc / Pierce” Ellis

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Dr Wilbur Pierce “Doc" / "Pierce” Ellis

Birth
Laurel, Sussex County, Delaware, USA
Death
4 Jun 2012 (aged 94)
Laurel, Sussex County, Delaware, USA
Burial
Laurel, Sussex County, Delaware, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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W. Pierce Ellis M.D.
Dr. W. Pierce Ellis

Dr. W. Pierce "Doc" Ellis, 94, of Laurel, Delaware passed away at home on June 4, 2012, surrounded by his loving family.

Dr. Ellis was born in Laurel, the oldest son of the late Wilbur and Elsie Ellis. He graduated from Laurel High School's Class of 1935 and from Drexel University in 1940. Dr. Ellis graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1945 and also proudly served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1947. Dr. Ellis' lifetime dedication to his fellow man, his strong community support, his leadership both in the local community and as a member of Centenary United Methodist Church (UMC) were extraordinary. His passion and life's work as an excellent and caring physician serving Laurel and the surrounding communities from 1948-1993 was absolutely second to none. Dr. Ellis was a member of the American Medical Association, Medical Society of Delaware and the Sussex County Medical Society. He served as president of the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital Staff from 1962-1963, was a 25-year member of the Laurel Lions Club, and was a member of Centenary UMC where he served as a Trustee and Financial Chairman. He also served as a director for Sussex Trust and Wilmington Trust Banks, was a Laurel School Board Member and a member of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation and was the recipient of the Laurel Citizen of the Year Award in 1999.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Madelon Ellis of Laurel, son, Blair Ellis and his wife, Mary of Yorktown, VA, daughter, Joan E. Smith and her husband, Ronald of Collingswood, NJ, and son-in-law, Robert Hellriegel of Las Vegas, NV. Six grandchildren and six great grandchildren also survive him.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a daughter Ann E. Hellriegel who passed in 1993, a grandson, John Hellriegel, and his three brothers, Richard, Joseph, and Blair.

A funeral service will be held at Centenary UMC,

200 W. Market Street Laurel, Delaware on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 2:00 PM, where a visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 1:00 PM. A viewing will also be held at the Hannigan, Short, Disharoon Funeral Home Funeral Home, Laurel, DE on Wednesday evening from 7:00-9:00 PM. The Rev. Joseph G. Burris will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Laurel and will end with a reception back at Centenary UMC.

Contributions can be made in Dr. Ellis' name to: Laurel Library, 101 East 4th St., Laurel, DE 19956 or Nanticoke Health Services, Foundation 801 Middle ford Road, Seaford, DE 19973.

Online condolences can be made to the Ellis family by visiting

Published in The News Journal on June 6, 2012
W. Pierce Ellis M.D.
Dr. W. Pierce Ellis

Dr. W. Pierce "Doc" Ellis, 94, of Laurel, Delaware passed away at home on June 4, 2012, surrounded by his loving family.

Dr. Ellis was born in Laurel, the oldest son of the late Wilbur and Elsie Ellis. He graduated from Laurel High School's Class of 1935 and from Drexel University in 1940. Dr. Ellis graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1945 and also proudly served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1947. Dr. Ellis' lifetime dedication to his fellow man, his strong community support, his leadership both in the local community and as a member of Centenary United Methodist Church (UMC) were extraordinary. His passion and life's work as an excellent and caring physician serving Laurel and the surrounding communities from 1948-1993 was absolutely second to none. Dr. Ellis was a member of the American Medical Association, Medical Society of Delaware and the Sussex County Medical Society. He served as president of the Nanticoke Memorial Hospital Staff from 1962-1963, was a 25-year member of the Laurel Lions Club, and was a member of Centenary UMC where he served as a Trustee and Financial Chairman. He also served as a director for Sussex Trust and Wilmington Trust Banks, was a Laurel School Board Member and a member of the Laurel Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation and was the recipient of the Laurel Citizen of the Year Award in 1999.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Madelon Ellis of Laurel, son, Blair Ellis and his wife, Mary of Yorktown, VA, daughter, Joan E. Smith and her husband, Ronald of Collingswood, NJ, and son-in-law, Robert Hellriegel of Las Vegas, NV. Six grandchildren and six great grandchildren also survive him.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a daughter Ann E. Hellriegel who passed in 1993, a grandson, John Hellriegel, and his three brothers, Richard, Joseph, and Blair.

A funeral service will be held at Centenary UMC,

200 W. Market Street Laurel, Delaware on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 2:00 PM, where a visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 1:00 PM. A viewing will also be held at the Hannigan, Short, Disharoon Funeral Home Funeral Home, Laurel, DE on Wednesday evening from 7:00-9:00 PM. The Rev. Joseph G. Burris will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Laurel and will end with a reception back at Centenary UMC.

Contributions can be made in Dr. Ellis' name to: Laurel Library, 101 East 4th St., Laurel, DE 19956 or Nanticoke Health Services, Foundation 801 Middle ford Road, Seaford, DE 19973.

Online condolences can be made to the Ellis family by visiting

Published in The News Journal on June 6, 2012


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