Robert J. Ellison

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother Robert Joe Ellison, 77 of rural Kokomo, passed away at 8:25 a.m. Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at Kindred Healthcare in Kokomo. He was born January 2, 1937 in Kokomo to William B. & Alpha L. (Burkett) Ellison. Bob married Cherryl A. Heeter in Greentown on June 26, 1960 and she preceded him in death on January 9, 1980. He married Janet K. Schooler in Lebanon on February 14, 1981 and she survives.

Bob graduated from Tipton High School and attended IU-Kokomo. He began work as the mechanic and shop manager for Ellison Tractor Sales, the business his parents established in Hobbs. He later became co-owner of Ellison Sales with his brother Bill. In recent years, Bob assisted Bill installing business radios for E&G Custom Engineering from the same shop in Hobbs.

Bob was a member of West Street Christian Church in Tipton where he had served as a deacon and elder. He was a member of the Windfall Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, the Murat Shrine and the Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis. His greatest joy was spending time at Mackinac Island with his wife Janet, family and friends. He enjoyed his breakfasts with the farmers of Tipton County at restaurants in Hobbs and Windfall, and he loved to have long conversations over cups of coffee.

In addition to his wife Janet, Bob is survived by two sons, Brett A. (Lisa) Ellison, Kokomo and Brian L. (Joslyn) Ellison, Bloomington; two step-sons, Jeffrey L. (Rose) Schooler, Phoenix and James R. Schooler, Gilbert, Arizona; five grandchildren, Andrew P. Ellison and Cameron M. Ellison, Kokomo, and Cherryl S. Ellison, Samantha B. Ellison and Kaitlin A. Ellison of Bloomington; step-granddaughter Lauren T. Schooler, Phoenix; a brother, William K. Ellison, Tipton. Bob is also survived by a former sister-in-law, Joyce A. Ellison, Atlanta; one niece, Lisa M. Ellison, Tokyo, Japan; one nephew, William Ellison, Tipton and dear friends Kenny & Kaye Kemper, Windfall.

Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Cherryl A. Ellison; his parents, William B. & Alpha L. Ellison and his sister, Julie A. Ellison.

Funeral services will be at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 13 at West Street Christian Church, 132 N. West Street, Tipton with the Rev. Linda McKiernan-Allen presiding. Burial will follow in Albright Cemetery, Kokomo. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday at Young-Nichols Funeral Home, Tipton with a Masonic service at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to West Street Christian Church, Guardian Angels Hospice, 412 W. Sycamore Street, Kokomo, Indiana, 46901, or a charity of the donor's choice.