John Thomas Ellington

On Friday, October 6th 2023 John Thomas Ellington at 91 years old, made his final journey home to the arms of the Lord. We can trust that he was greeted with open arms by his late wife Patricia and her mom Kippy, his daughter Nancy, his Mom Helen, that he hasn’t seen since he was 7 years old and scores of other family members.

John was born in 1932 in St Louis Missouri and lived there until he was 17 years old when he joined, with signed permission from his father, the United States Air Force. He was one of 6 siblings from his mother Helen and his father Frank and had other ½ brothers and sisters.

In January of 1951, while out with his service buddies, at a dance hall, he met his bride, Patricia Belanger. In March of ‘51 he proposed to her and they were married in August of the same year. They remained married and in love, for 58 years, until her death in 2009.

Throughout his 20 years in the service John was stationed all over the world, spending time in Greenland, Alaska, Thailand and the Aleutian Islands. He could still remember much of the Thai he learned while stationed there, even 50 years later. John was a large machines mechanic in the Air Force and once computers were introduced in the mid 1960’s, he tested and was chosen to join one of the first classes of programmers in the USAF. He retired as a Master Sergeant at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and chose Florida as his retirement destination in 1970.

After retiring, John started the 2nd chapter of his career and worked for The Exchange Bank, Freedom Federal/Freedom Savings, Hillsborough Community College and Pasco County School Board, first as a Computer Programmer and later as a Systems Analyst. At Pasco County he wrote a program to help schools identify missing children and was invited to the State Capital in 1986 to introduce the program to the entire state of Florida. He retired again in 1994 for the final time.

John loved Art and Crafts and was known for doing anything from String Art and Velvet Painting in the 60’s, to Jewelry in the 70’s and 80’s and was a big Bob Ross follower as a painter. He painted under the direction of John Gutcher and later introduced John to Father Stokes at OLPH and was instrumental in having the murals painted on the altar at OLPH Church. He did amazing origami work and was still folding paper until weeks before his death.

John was a Eucharistic Minister at OLPH for over 20 years and loved his involvement in the Catholic Church, it was ingrained in his soul and something he was very proud of. Throughout the years, he taught Catechism, Alter Boy Instruction classes and later Confirmation classes. He was in charge of the Alter Boys for many years at OLPH and was never prouder than when he was able to teach his grandson Tray how to be an alter boy. He was part of the Healing Prayer Group at OLPH and loved the friendships he made in that group.

John is survived by 7 of his 8 children including daughter Kathleen Schott (RIP Robert), Joyce Taylor (Lankford aka Rusty) and Janice Ellington, and sons Daniel (RIP Aleta), Michael (RIP Patricia), Roy (Patricia) and Christopher.

John was Papa to his 20 grandchildren; Karen Adams (Richard), John Cathcart (Lexi), Rebeca Whitcomb (David), John Ellington (Linda), Timothy Ellington, James Ellington, Sarah De Elliss, Joshua Ellington, Andrew Scott Ellington, Matthew Ellington, Carman Roach (Jason), Amanda Ellington, Susan Ellington, Lankford “Tray” Taylor III (Ilene), Chadwick Taylor (Alison), Grant Taylor (Mika), Adam Taylor, Jessica Kirk, Jericho Kirk and Jack Kirk.

He is also Papa to his great grandchildren, Amanda Adams, Celeste Cathcart, Zoe Cathcart, Dakota Cathcart, Katana Cathcart, Nizhoni Whitcomb, Naomi Whitcomb, Jack Whitcomb, Benjamin Ellington, Alyssa Ellington, Katie Jo Ellington, Ronan Roach, Jensen Roach, Makayla Taylor, Aubrey Taylor, Bella Taylor, Chadwick Taylor Jr, and Selah Taylor.

John is also survived by his brother and lifelong friend Roy Myler.

Through the years John and Pat opened their doors to many other friends and family and allowed others to live in his home as if they were their own honorary children, including Michelle Colange Haskins, Robbie Figueroa, Quintina Ellington, Judy O’Mara, Kina Cruz, Priscila Perez, and Cassie Torres.

John accomplished a lot in his 91 years and will be loved and missed by every life he ever touched.

Please join us in honoring John, Thursday, October 12th at 11am for a Viewing at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 1711 East 11th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605 with a mass immediately following at 12 Noon. Graveside Service will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4207 East Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33610.

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