Obituary For William H “Bill” Ellman

Bill Ellman, 87, of Poteau, OK, died peacefully Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, in Fort Smith, AR. Bill was born in Preston, Maryland on Nov. 28 1924, to William H. Sr. & Marie Schulke Ellman. He was a former newspaper owner, publisher and editor, and had lived in New Braunfels, Georgetown, Overton, Troup, and Whitehouse, Texas. His last newspaper ownership was started from the ground up with no mailing list and covered Troup, Whitehouse, and Lake Tyler, TX.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, a stepfather, Tucker Davis, his first wife, Elizabeth “Lib” Boylston Ellman, and two sisters, Betty Ellman and Thedora “Ted” Browne.

He is survived by his wife, Glynda Ellman of the home; a daughter, Betty “Betts” Mitchell and husband Kris of Troup, TX; a son, William H. “Billy” Ellman, Jr., and wife Cynthia of Lindale, TX; he is survived by the additional children brought into his life with his marriage to Glynda, which he also considered his children: Kelli Perriello and Tera Gandy, Hot Springs Village, AR; Laurie P. Davis and husband Bob Davis, Jr, Fort Collins, CO; Grant Perriello and wife Sissy, El Dorado, AR; Tracy Perriello and fiancée, Eric Adams, Van Buren, AR; and Andrea “Andi” P. White and husband Mic, Little Rock, AR; grandchildren include Brandon Coffman, Bellingham, WA; Jason Ellman, Los Angeles, CA; Andrea Ellman Wofford and husband Michael, The Sultanese, Oman; Whitley Wallace, Little Rock, AR; Andrew Moore, Tulsa, OK; Maddie and Lucie Davis, Fort Collins, CO; Tori Francis, Grayson Francis, and Grant Ashton “Ash” Perriello, all of El Dorado, AR. He is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Lila and Garner Wofford, Oman; as well as a host of other family members, friends and loved ones.

A Celebration of his life will be held with at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 10, 2012, at Grace Manor Funeral Home in Poteau. The service will be conducted by Rev. Tracy Ellis, First Christian Church, Poteau, with private burial at Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Edwards Mercy Hospice, P.O. Box 17000, Ft. Smith, AR 72917 or the building & maintenance fund at First Christian Church, P.O. Box 160, Poteau, OK. You may leave an online message at www.gracemanorfh.com