Ellis John Civello Sr.

On May 12, 2020 our Heavenly Father called home one of his rugged warriors, Ellis John Civello, Sr., age 94, after a prolonged and difficult five year end of life battle, to an everlasting, well-deserved, and peaceful rest.

Ellis was born in Dallas, TX on April 12, 1926, the only child of Sam and Sadie Nancy Pinola Civello, and is survived by, in his own words, his “beautiful, loving, caring, faithful and dedicated wife”, Marion Runyon Civello of Wichita Falls and Dallas. His birth was on the occasion of his parents’ first wedding anniversary. Born a handful of years after the last great pandemic, and only three years old when the Great Depression struck, Ellis went on to graduate from Crozier Tech High School in Dallas on January 28, 1944. Less than a week later, on February 1, 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Our country was at war, and Ellis answered the call to active duty in March. After boot camp, he was assigned to the First Marine Division, “the Old Breed”, for further training in the South Pacific. On April 1, 1945, an Easter Sunday, the First Marine Division and U.S. forces under theater commander Adm. Chester Nimitz invaded Okinawa Island. During this engagement, one of the fiercest during World War II, Ellis traded in his M-1 Garand for a Thompson submachine gun. His mission: to protect the forward observer radioing back battlefield intel. The two were blasted and injured by a nearby artillery shell strike, but survived being thrown many yards and down into a bunker. He suffered injuries to his neck and hearing which stayed with him through life. In the final years before his passing, Ellis began to recount his experiences with a great sense of presence, even retracing his steps patrolling through the bombed-out remnants of Shuri Castle. After eighty-two days of combat engagement, the Battle of Okinawa was ended, and the island was secured. Also later in life Ellis spoke of his subsequent mission into China to assist in its liberation, remembering in amazing detail the landscapes and rivers, buildings and people.

On December 10, 1948, Ellis married Marion Edith Runyon Civello. They enjoyed the bounty of an amazing 71 years of marriage, and were blessed with four wonderful children who survive him: Sam (wife Doreen), Dr. Ellis John Jr. (wife Tammy), Tony (wife Charlotte), and Missy (his favorite daughter!).

Ellis and Marion were one of the founding families of St. Pius X Catholic Church, and they volunteered their time in abundance. Ellis was an usher for the Sunday 8:00 AM Mass at St. Pius for more than a decade, as well as a coach for baseball and basketball for many seasons, while Marion was a volunteer at St. Pius and then head of the school cafeteria for many years. Ellis and his wife were remembered fondly by the many school children who passed through their lives. Their friend and pastor of many years, the late Msgr. Thomas W. Weinzapfel, always spoke highly of Ellis and Marion when recalling the many years of their association with the parish.

Ellis was the family patriarch and leader by example. He held steadfast to his Christian family values; his love of God and His Son Jesus Christ informed his life and was his Guiding Principle. His love of family flowed from this, and no sacrifice was too great for him. To further support their values, Ellis and Marion worked long hours so their children could attend St. Pius X Catholic Grade School, and then Bishop Lynch High School, both of which they supported from their earliest days as institutions.

The dedication to family did not cease with child rearing and obtaining for his children the best possible education. It continued on for decades under his guidance through many family reunions and holiday gatherings, both large and small. Sharing of food, fun, and renewing family ties were first and foremost in the decades of these gatherings; the family patriarch would have it no other way. Through all of his life, Ellis remained a devout Catholic and role model of devotion to family.

While predeceased by his parents, Ellis was survived by not only his wife and children, of whom he was so exceptionally proud, but also by his eleven loving grandchildren: Sam (wife Ashley), Andy, and Lt. Dan of the DFD (wife Jordan); Michael, Jacqulin and Dominic; Jeremy (wife Deanna), Jennifer and Josh; Phillip and Alessia. He was also blessed with and survived by ten great grandchildren: Hogan and Griffin, Emma and Olivia, Hunter and Haley, Rush and Raegan, Ford David and Sawyer Ellis.

While services at Calvary Hill Chapel and the DFW National Cemetery are delayed due to the current pandemic, his wife Marion, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren invite you to remember and celebrate in your hearts and prayers one of the Old Breed and the Greatest Generation, Corporal Ellis John Civello, Sr.