Orval E. Ellis, 86, 922 Motz St., St. Marys, died April 7, 2009, at his residence.

He was born May 1, 1922, in Portland, Ind., to Harry and Ada Smith Ellis. On June 25, 1949, he married Winona "Dana" Carmean, who died in 1985.

Surviving are three children, Neil (Jaculin) Ellis, St. Marys, Melanie (Tom) Guillozet, Piqua, and Lindsay (Julie) Ellis, Grand Junction, Colo.; three sisters, Betty Schroeder, Midland, Mich., Dorothy Anderson, Bluffton, and Marjorie Poor, Hoagland, Ind.; two brothers, Chalmer Ellis, Bay City, Mich., and Vearl Ellis, Van Wert; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Deceased are two sisters, Crystal Sherman and Sarah Granger; and two brothers, Leonard and Kenneth Ellis.

He worked at the former Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, St. Marys, for 43 years, as a janitor at the United Rubber Workers' Union Hall, St. Marys, and was a handyman for Hunter Plumbing and Heating, Celina. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II where he served as staff sergeant with the 329th Infantry, Regimental Headquarters, 83rd Infantry. He landed in France on D-Day, fought on the beaches at Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge, Ardennes and throughout northern France, central Europe and the Rhineland. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star for heroic achievement during battle near Culot, France, on July 6, 1944.

Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Miller-Long and Folk Funeral Home, St. Marys, the Rev. Ed Bray officiating. Burial is at Resthaven Memory Gardens, St. Marys.

Calling is 5-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Contributions can be made to the ALS (Lou Gehrig's) Foundation, American Heart Fund or the PSA Three Agency on Aging.

Condolences can be left at www.millerfuneralhomes.net.