Donna Mae Ellis, age 86, of Winona Lake, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, at 4:30 a.m. in Grace Village Retirement Community of Winona Lake.
Donna was born on Sept. 20, 1933, in Butler, to Ernest W. and Bessie Mae Snyder Hackbirth. She was married to Charles A. Ellis in Kosciusko County on Sept. 25, 1953.
Donna lived in Washington state as a young girl and then moved to Kosciusko County, where she lived the remainder of her lifetime. She graduated from Pierceton High School and continued on to graduate from South Bend Business College of Commerce. She attended Purdue University, Grace College and completed ICS School of Design in 1976. Donna was an interior designer and business manager for 12 years prior to becoming and then owning Interiors One-Three from 1976 to 2013.
Donna was a group leader for Winning Over Widowhood (WOW), associated with the Presbyterian Church, Warsaw. She was also a member of the Salvation Army Auxiliary. She was active in Winona Lake Free Methodist Church Sunday School and Bible studies. Donna enjoyed embroidering and sewing. She was an avid reader and she also loved to travel. Her greatest joy was taking care of her family, of which she loved dearly.
Donna is survived by her children: Charlene (David) Johnson, of Warsaw; Jim Ellis, of Warsaw; and Jennifer Ellis, of Indianapolis; grandchildren: David Johnson, of Warsaw; Caitlin Johnson, of Jackson, Mich.; Michelle (Larry) Hollar, of Warsaw; Danelle (John) Leeka, of Warsaw; and Dana (Ralph) Hatfield, of Warsaw; in addition, she is survived by five great-grandchildren; brothers, James (Ida) Hackbirth, of Texas; and Robert Hackbirth, of Winona Lake; and sister, Ruth (John) Skeel, of Winona Lake.
She was preceded in death by her husband Charles A. Ellis, in 1999; one grandchild, Justin Ellis; daughter-in-law, Sandy Ellis; and two brothers: David and Allen Hackbirth.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16 at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw, with the funeral service starting at 5 p.m. Pastor Bob Jarboe will officiate the service. Interment will be private.
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Memorials to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, 1515 Provident Drive, Warsaw, IN 46581; or The Salvation Army, 501 E. Arthur St., P.O. Box 175, Warsaw, IN 46581.
To sign the guestbook or send a condolence go to www.mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.
