She is preceded in death by her parents, Col. Willie C. Strum and Lorraine Smith-Shely Strum.
She is survived by Volney Ellis, her devoted husband of 69 years, as well as their three children, Stephanie Ecke, Valerie Overstreet, and Ashley Ellis, along with their spouses, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren, and by her sister, Elise Word.
A Private Burial will take place at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. A Private Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that those wishing may send a donation to the Shriner Hospital for Children, the Lewy Body Dementia Assn or the American Cancer Society.
