Norma Jean Ellis

Norma Jean Ellis (Jean), age 93 of Mesa, AZ passed away December 29, 2021. She was born in Chanute Kansas on March 28th, 1928 to William Aaron Baldwin (1900-1984) and May Inez Baldwin (Force) (1904-1958). About 1935, she moved to Pittsburg, KS with her family of 4 siblings – Kenneth Baldwin, - (1926-), Peggy May (Taylor) -(1929-2008), Warren L Baldwin (1932-1988) and Marilyn Sue Goodrich - (1935-1977). She graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1945. After High School Norma Jean went to work for Bell Telephone as an operator on the switch board and transferred to Omaha, NE in 1946. She took communication schooling and learned Morse Code and Telex typing. She then moved to Wichita, KS and worked for TWA airlines as a teletype operator to let pilots know of emergency communication. After a pilot strike 6 months later, she returned to Bell Telephone Company as a service representative. After another 6 months she moved to Denver, CO in late 1947 and worked as a PBX operator at a car dealership. She lived in a boarding house where she met William (Bill) P. Ellis (1923-1998). They married October 6th 1948 and Bill was shipped to Munich Germany with the Army immediately after. Norma Jean joined him and they started a family of two sons born in Munich Germany. Bill transferred to the Air Force and moved to Moses Lake Washington where two daughters were born. Then Bill shipped to Japan. Norma Jean stayed in Wichita, KS until a son was born and then moved to Japan. Two daughters (twins) were born there. The Ellis family moved back to the states in 1957 where Bill completed his 20+ years of military service in Waco Texas. In 1963, the family moved to Rockville, MD. In 1978 Bill retired again after 15 years at National Institute of Health and they both moved to Mesa, AZ. Norma Jean loved making quilts and sewing/crafting for her family and friends. She golfed and bowled with Bill until his passing in 1998. She is survived by her brother Kenneth Baldwin (Mary) and all seven of her children, Stephen L. Ellis (Su Lin), Robert W. Ellis, Bonita L. Thomas, Peggy Sue Ellis, Donald W. Ellis (Mary Jo), Karen Jean Clarke, and Sharon Dean Raftery. She was blessed with 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. Norma Jean also had a large number of nieces and nephews and extended family.

A committal service for NORMA JEAN will be held Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery, 10940 East Chandler Heights Rd, Chandler, AZ 85248.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com for the ELLIS family.