Hal Roberts Ellis, III, Commander US Navy (Retired) passed away Monday, December 29, 2014 at the age of 81 surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Barbara Brown Ellis and his children Hal R. Ellis IV (Cathy), Elizabeth E. Dickason (Don), and John L. Ellis; four grandsons Matthew, Justin, and Ryan Dickason and Austin Ellis; close cousins Laurine Shuman, Shivers McCollum (Nancy), Dexter Jordan, and Dr. Thornton Jordan (Sue) and several cousins he was fond of. Hal was born in Hazlehurst, MS to Hal R. Ellis, Jr. and Frances Hester Ellis. He was raised by his grandmother, Josie Granberry Ellis and his aunt, Josephine E. McCollum Jordan.

Hal was appointed to the US Naval Academy in 1952 and graduated in 1956. His Naval career included tours on three diesel submarines and a year in Vietnam. After he retired in 1978, he enjoyed teaching tennis, managing the Little Creek Tennis Pro Shop, running with the Tidewater Striders (including three Shamrock Marathons), and riding with the Tidewater Bicycle Association. He was also an amateur nature photographer.

The burial will be held at noon Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, 6329 E. Va. Beach Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23502. The memorial service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Community United Methodist Church, 1072 Old Kempsville Road, Va. Beach, VA 23464. The family will receive friends at the church thirty minutes prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the church or the Va. Beach SPCA. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.woodlawngroup.com

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