Ellis L. Powell

June 8, 1948

December 15, 2023

Ellis L. Powell was born on June 8,1948 to Helen L. Sledge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he attended elementary school and graduated from Dobbins Technical High School. Ellis furthered his engineering education at Lasalle University in Philadelphia and in the United States Army with high level security clearances. Ellis was active in sports in high school, especially baseball where he was scouted by Major League Baseball.

However, he later chose to concentrate his efforts in the technical field and later joined the Federal Aviation Administration. Ellis managed Airway Facilities employees in sectors in various regions in New York State, the Washington D.C. area, including Joint Base Andrews, and a number of sites in Virginia and South Carolina. Ellis never believed in resting on what he had done lately but was always looking for the next advancement. He attended many in-house advancement programs as well as long-term programs conducted by by the FAA and universities. He attended the University of Buffalo, Canisius College, and earned a business degree from Bryant and Stratton Business Institute in Buffalo, New York.

When Ellis moved from Philadelphia to work at the Buffalo, New York airport, he met and married Weanett Sanders James July 27, 1985 in Niagara Falls, New York. Ellis was a devoted, loving, and generous husband and father to Michael and Keith, and later a great grandpa to his three grandgirls. He loved deep water fishing with friends, but he also cherished fishing small ponds with Miki because she loved it so much. Ellis also loved hunting which he grew up hunting with his grandfather, but he never hunted with the grandgirls. Morgan and Mckinley enjoyed sightseeing and events with grandpa rather than fishing.

Ellis loved to travel, and he and Weanett had their share of domestic and foreign adventures by land and sea. He especially loved going to locations that were famous for various kinds of food. Ellis had a "follow the food" itinerary throughout the U.S. Barbeque in Kansas, Memphis, and Texas; Cajun and Creole in Louisiana, lobster in Maine, and of course Philly steak sandwiches, but only those made in Philly. Other steak sandwiches were only imitations of the real thing.

Ellis accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized but never joined another church after he left the Apostolic faith as a teenager. However, he always supported and donated to Christian causes. And while he was not one to be taken advantage of, he was generous to family and friends. Ellis was a prince of a man, the Best, who left wonderful memories for his wife Weanett, son Michael; grandgirls Miki, Morgan, and Mckinley; brothers Bruce and Andre (Irene) Sledge; sisters Tricia, Valerie, Tonya, and Venida Sledge; uncle Thomas Bradford, first cousins Thomas, Tyrone, and Tamala Bradford; Sisters-in-law Shavy (Franklin)Murphy, Candis Sanders, Michelle S. Reid; nephew Lonnie Reid; nieces Crysta Bolton, Dori White, Leigh Reid; and great niece London White. He is also survived by a host of other beloved relatives and friends.

Ellis was preceded in death by his mother Helen L. Sledge, son Keith A. Bradley, and Grandfather William P. Powell, as well as many other family members.