Colonel S. Aaron Ellis

October 5, 1929 - October 18, 2021

"Colonel S. Aaron Ellis, 92, of Louisville, KY, passed away on October 18, 2021. He was the son of the late Ona Martin and Stanley L. Ellis, former Ellis Hatchery & Feed Store merchants of Carlisle, IN. Col. Ellis’ is survived by his widow, Rose Marie Yates-Ellis; daughter, Karen Ellis; son, Bryan Ellis (Susanne), step-sons, Kevin Davis (Betsy), Keith Davis, Joe Gatewood (Emily), Joshua Gatewood (Sarah), John Gatewood (Erica), Charles Parr (Alisa), Ron Key (Follin) and Alexander Key; sisters, Beth Ann LeDune and Susan Press; brother Steven Ellis (Miranda); 17 grandchildren, Dylan, Jennifer, Alyssa, Jamie, Jordan, Blake, Michaela, Sara, Shelby, Andrew, Joseph Daniel, J.T., Zoe, Lizzi, Addison, Julianna, Eve, and Alex; 3 great grandchildren; and former wife Mary Jo Roesener. Col. Ellis was preceded in death by his late wife, Lois Key Ellis. Mr. Ellis was a member of the Watterson Trail Church of Christ near Jeffersontown, KY. He was a descendant from early settlers of Carlisle and Sullivan County (IN) which included the families of John W. Ellis, Thomas Orlando Ellis, Claude A. Ellis, Anthony Minich, John Sproatt, Lorenzo D. Wiggs and Dr. Joseph K. O’Haver. Mr. Ellis attended Indiana elementary schools in Carlisle, Fredericksburg, and Madison, and graduating from New Albany, IN High School in 1947. He continued his education at Purdue University enlisting in the USAF pilot training in February 1950; Aeronautical Engineering and majoring in Powerplants and minoring in Mathematics. He attended graduate school at USC and the USAF Air War College in 1973. Mr. Ellis worked in the Propulsion Branch of Douglas Aircraft Company at El Segunda, CA providing the Preliminary Design and Advanced Design Groups with jet A4D aircraft. He resumed his military aviation career for the Department of Defense in Portland, OR and in 1979 retired as Colonel (USAF) at Kelly AFB, TX as the Director of Operations, 433rd Tactical Airlift Wing. He then worked for the Federal Aviation Administration at Minneapolis, MN as an Aviation Safety Inspector licensing airline pilots and flight engineers in the DC-10 and B-727 aircraft and the FSDO in Louisville, KY. Mr. Ellis retired from the FAA in 1990. He was a member of the Blue River Lodge #457, F. & A.M. at Fredericksburg, IN and several genealogy and computer organizations. Mr. Ellis was loved as a husband, father, grandfather and friend. His presence will be missed by family and friends. " Visitation will be from 4-8 pm Thursday, October 21, 2021 at Ratterman and Sons Funeral Home 3800 Bardstown Rd. His funeral service will be 11 am on Friday, October 22, 2021 at the funeral home with burial to follow in Lebanon National Cemetery, Lebanon, KY with Military Honors. Expressions of sympathy may be made to St Jude Children's Hospital or Boys and Girls Haven.