Helen Ellis
Mrs. Helen Driscoll Ellis, age 94, of 410 Lexington Avenue, died Saturday, July 30, 2011 at the residence of her son and daughter-in-law. She was the wife of the late Henry Gray Ellis who preceded her in death in 2003.
Mrs. Ellis was born April 28, 1917 in Clifton Forge, the daughter of the late E. C. Driscoll and Willie Kate Davis Driscoll. She was the valedictorian of Covington High School, Class of 1934. Mrs. Ellis was a former employee of the Citizen National Bank. She was an eighty – two year member of Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church and was a member of the Granbery United Methodist Women of the Church. She was also a member of the Jackson River Garden Club, the Covington Women’s Club, the Alleghany Historical Society and the Virginia Tech Alumni Association.
Mrs. Ellis is survived by one son, Gray Whitman Ellis and wife, Linda of Covington; one daughter, Jane D. Ellis of Covington; one granddaughter, Sarah Kate Valatka and husband, Gregory of Blacksburg; two great grandchildren, Henry William Valatka and Jake Oliver Valatka; one brother-in-law, John Leigh Ellis and wife, Alta of Virginia Beach; sisters- in- law Rosemary (Polly) Driscoll of Covington and Mary Harrison Driscoll of South Boston, VA; and special in the hearts of the Ellis family, Sammy Allison and wife, Sue of Roanoke and Pam A. Allison of New York, NY; special caregivers, Barbara Armentrout, Betty Caldwell and Peggy Nicely for their care, love and support during Mrs. Ellis’s illness..
In addition to her parents, E.C. Driscoll and Willie Kate Davis Driscoll, and her husband, Henry Gray Ellis, Mrs. Ellis was preceded in death by three brothers, William E. Driscoll, Dr. Davis R. Driscoll, and Fredrick C. Driscoll; two sisters, Hattie M. Driscoll and F. Virginia Driscoll; and special in the hearts of the Ellis family, David Lee Allison and John Warner Allison.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Barry Throckmorton officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Bill Withrow, Tad Robertson, Greg Reynolds, Wayne Perkins, Durwin Waddell, Sr., Sammy Allison and Gregory Valatka.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 7:00 P.M. until 8:30 P.M. at and at other times at the residence of Whitman and Linda Ellis, 608 Addams St., Covington.
The family suggests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic, P.O. Box 216, Low Moor, VA 24457, Granbery Memorial United Methodist Church, 425 W. Main Street, Covington, VA 24426, and Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Class of 1933, Mr. & Mrs. H. Gray Ellis Scholarship Fund, or Mountain Regional Hospice, P.O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.
Those wishing to send condolences online, please visit www.lovingfuneralhome1913.com.

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