WILLIAMSBURG—Retired U.S. Army Col. Gary Leroy Ellis, PhD, 92, of Williamsburg died October 14, 2026.
Gary graduated from the University of Virginia in 1956 with a bachelor’s of commerce, and later a master’s from the University of Oklahoma and doctorate from Columbia Pacific University.
Throughout his military career, he was stationed in Puerto Rico, Ft. Eustis, Panama Canal, Ft. Bragg, Vietnam, Ft. Hood, Ft. McPherson, Athens, Greece, Ft. Leavenworth and lastly at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. His military honors include Airborne Wings, three Army Commendation Medals, two Bronze Stars, a Vietnam Service Medal with five battle stars, a Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Star, a Legion of Merit, a Meritorious Service Medal and a Defense Superior Service Medal.
He retired from the Army as a full colonel in 1981 and then worked for another 15 years for General Electric and Lockheed Martin.
Gary was member of the TKE social fraternity and part of the Army ROTC Jefferson Sabers at UVA, was the first American to receive a Greek Pilot’s license through the Royal Aero Club of Athens, was in the Rotary Club in White Stone, flew for the USCG Auxiliary, was in the Sons of the American Revolution and was a member of the United Flying Octogenarian (UFO) pilots’ organization.
Gary is survived by his second wife of 14 years, Susan Judd; his daughters, Erin Ellis Mayer and Eve Lorena Ellis (Andy Burden); grandchildren, Carly Mayer, Carson Mayer and Elaine Ellis Burden; and two great granddaughters, Claire and Margot Mayer; as well as stepdaughter Julia Judd Luna and her three children, Zoe, Mel and Violet.
Gary is predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Emily Grace Morrison Ellis; his parents, Elmer Francis Ellis and Lorena Alice Heishman Ellis; and his stepmother, Elinor Ellis.
Gary will be buried next to Emily at Oak Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg in a private family service. A celebration of Gary’s life will be held in the Grand Hall at Patriots Colony at 2 p.m. Friday, January 8, 2027.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the American Heart Association, www.heart.org, or Old Dominion Honor Flight, olddominionhonorflight.org.
