Philip Randall Ellis
Philip Randall Ellis, 86, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, died on July 6, 2025, at Gentle Hands Personal Care Home, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Philip was born on Monday, Nov. 14, 1938, in Goldsboro, NC. He grew up in Clarkton, NC and graduated from Clarkton High School in 1956. While in High School, he was a member of the Beta Club, played the clarinet in the High School Band and was manager of the Varsity Boys Basketball Team. Philip graduated from and received a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1961 from North Carolina State College, now known as North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1962, served his country during the Cuban Missile Crisis and received an honorable discharge in 1964.
Philip married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Cornelia Pait, on July 18, 1959. They moved to Chattanooga, TN in 1961. He was employed in the Rates and Contracts section of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for 31 years. He retired from TVA in 1992, leaving behind, in the words of a fellow employee, a legacy of dignity and respect. After retirement, he returned to TVA and worked part-time for several years and then part-time with the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association (TVPPA) for several years.
Philip was a Christian, and an ordained deacon. He served in many areas of church ministry in several local churches throughout the years. Currently he was a member of Ooltewah Baptist Church. He enjoyed hobbies of traveling (visiting all 50 US states and many European countries), reading, watching TV, fishing in the surf at Ocean Isle Beach, NC with his dad and rocking and reading on the front porch of the beach house, antiquing, building model ships and airplanes and other woodworking projects. He was a man of integrity who loved God, his family, his friends, and country and was faithful to all of them.
Philip’s father, Norman B. Ellis, mother, Velma Hatcher Ellis, an infant brother, sister, Goldie Ellis Campbell, brother-in-law Charles Lee Campbell, his grandparents, Frank and Nora Ellis and Ner and Undine Hatcher, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joyce Pait Ellis. He also leaves behind a legacy of heirs who are Godly, patriotic citizens living from “Sea to shining Sea.” His heirs are twin sons, Gregg W. Ellis and wife Valerie, Longwood, FL, Craig S. Ellis and wife, Wendy, Bremerton, WA; two daughters, Rebecca (Becky) Ellis Mixson and Virginia (Ginny) Ellis Wilson and husband, Glenn, Ooltewah, TN; five granddaughters, Haylee Ellis Hunter and husband, Travis and Samantha Ellis Phillips and husband, Christopher, Bremerton, WA, Jessica Ellis Roberson and husband, Joshua, Longwood, FL, Katherine Ellis, Casselberry, FL, Sarah Ann Wilson, Ooltewah, TN; three grandsons, Jacob Mixson, Berry Hill, TN, Noah Wilson, and Micah Wilson, Ooltewah, TN; four great-granddaughters, Avery Grace Hunter, and Briar Olivia Hunter, Bremerton, WA, Aria Joyce Phillips, Bremerton WA, Alexandria Elizabeth Ellis, Casselberry, FL; one great-grandson, Ryan Atienza Phillips, Bremerton, WA; sister, Judy Ellis Daniels, Smithfield, NC; many cousins, nieces, and nephews; one brother-in-law, Claybourn L. Pait, Sr. and wife, Patricia, Pearl City, HI; one beloved “adopted” sister-in-law, Filena Carson and husband, L. M., Autryville, NC and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at Ooltewah Baptist Church on Thursday, July 10, at 12 p.m. with Rev. Jeremy Colloms and Rev. John Rouser officiating.
The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Ooltewah Baptist Church prior to the Funeral. Interment will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, via Ooltewah Baptist Church, 5514 Main Street, Ooltewah, TN 37363 or online at www.imb.org or to The Salvation Army, P. O. Box 23524, Chattanooga, TN 37422-3524.
Visit the online obituary www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories.
Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.