Charles Edward ELLSTON

ELLSTON, FISCHER, GRAVITT, HAMRIC, GUSTAFSON, NEAL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/10/2010 at 10:10:22

Charles Edward Ellston was born on July 11, 1926, to Gerald and Vera (Fischer) Ellston in Clarion, Iowa. He departed this life on Monday, March 8, 2010, at the Veterans Home, Mt. Vernon, Mo., at the age of 83. He moved to Des Moines, Iowa, at age 11, and in 1944, graduated from West High School. From February 1944 to October 1946, he served as an aerial engineer and crew chief in the Army Air Corps. In 1947, he began work at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Des Moines and retired in 1986. He married Catherine "Kitty" (Gravitt) Ellston on January 24, 1948. He moved to Independence, Mo., in 1988, and then to Springfield, Mo., in 2005. Charles was a member of the Community of Christ Church and had attended the Pleasant Heights congregation from 1988 to 2000, where he served as an elder. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Springfield, Mo.; a daughter, Michelle Hamric and husband Randal, Springfield, Mo.; a brother, Elwin "Bud" Ellston and wife Dixie, Des Moines, Iowa; a son-in-law, Don Gustafson, Beaverton, Ore.; a granddaughter, Noelle (Gustafson) Neal and husband Daniel, Springfield, Mo.; grandsons Noah Gustafson and wife Courtney, Raytown, Mo., Ethan Hamric, Springfield, Mo., Aaron Hamric, Springfield, Mo., and nieces, nephews and great granddaughters. His parents and a daughter, Valerie (Ellston) Gustafson, preceded him in death.

Services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, 2010, at the Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence, MO 64055. Visitation will be from noon until service time Saturday at the chapel. Interment will be in Mound Grove Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Kansas City Star - Missouri
March 10, 2010