1923 - 2018
No Vistitation Date Scheduled
No Funeral Date Scheduled
Ellis K. Washburn of Brooksby Village in Peabody, 95, died Friday, March 16, 2018.
He was married to the late Sophie (Bishop) Washburn, who died on Dec. 1, 2002.
Born in Bethel, Vermont, he was the son of the late Raymond and Esther (Slack) Washburn. He was raised in Bethel and graduated from Whitcomb High School in 1941.
Ellis served with the U.S. Army Air Corp during WWII as an instructor in aircraft radio repair, attaining the Rank of Corporal. After the war, he worked as a mechanical engineer in the electrical switch industry at Ark-Les in Watertown, Kent Manufacturing in Needham, Pollak in Dorchester, and Alcoswitch in N. Andover. He later worked at Raytheon in Andover and retired from Wang Labs in Lowell in 1983.
He married in 1945 and settled in Watertown, later building a house from scratch in Billerica while completing a correspondence course in Mechanical Engineering and working full time. He was a problem solver who could fix anything and enjoyed teaching woodworking skills to his grandsons. As an optimist with a great sense of humor, a smile would light up his face. As a good listener and real Vermonter, he was happy to help anyone, and “always had a plan.”
Ellis is survived by his daughter and son in law, Carol and Frederic Merriam of West Chelmsford; two grandsons and their wives, Eric Raymond Merriam and his wife, Melisa Medrano of Foster City, CA, and David Ellis Merriam and his wife, Rebecca Young of San Francisco, CA, and multiple nieces and nephews.
Deceased siblings include: Bert and his wife, Jacqueline Washburn of Vermont, Winston and his wife, Velma Washburn of Florida, Howard and his wife, Betty Washburn of Virginia, Shirley and her husband, Harold White of Vermont, and Eunice Washburn of Vermont. A celebration of life will be held at Brooksby Village on April 22. Gifts in memory of Ellis may be made to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com
Ed and Darlene Able
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Our deepest sympathy on the loss of your father.
Diane
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Carol and Fred, So sorry to hear of the passing of your father. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Glenn Mello
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Carol: In the 30 plus years I knew your father, I always enjoyed his sensible reasoning and his contagious smile. He lived a great life. My condolences to you and the family. Glenn Mello
Margaret MacKenney
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Carol and Fred. I only knew Ellis for a couple of years and he helped me learn/play pinochle on Sundays after lunch.(with the other girls.)
He was a joy to be around.
Sorry for your loss.
Margaret MacKenny
Carol Merriam
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Thank you, Glen, for your kind thoughts! He always enjoyed visiting and doing business with you. My Dad lived a good long life!
Carol
Carol Merriam
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Thank you, Margaret! Dad loved playing cards with you and the other girls!
Joyce Washburn
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I was sorry to hear of the passing of Ellis as well as Bert and Shirley Washburn. I was married to Howard for 13 years. All three were very nice as well as my husband Howard who was a very loving gentle person. God Bless