Ralph J. "Sonny" Ellison, Sr.

Ralph J. Ellison Sr., 90, best known as "Sonny", passed at his home with his family by his side on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024.

Ralph was born in Seneca Falls, NY, one of seven children born to the late Walter and Lena (Gurba) Ellison. He graduated from Mynderse Academy, Class of 1953 and in November of the same year joined the US Army. He served his country for two years and when he came home in 1955, he proposed to the former Eileen Holland and the couple was married in May of 1956. Sonny worked for and retired from Willard Psychiatric Center after thirty-two years of service.

Sonny was very much an outdoorsman and liked to stay busy. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved to hunt in the Adirondacks and along with some lifelong friends, would travel to rural La Tuque in Canada where they would have weekslong fishing trips. He also loved to golf and bowl where he played in many local leagues. For many years he was involved in area sports, where he coached and umpired many baseball and softball games. He refereed basketball for five years, coached Little League and umpired high school and Little League baseball for thirty years. He was also a great softball pitcher who was invited to pitch against the travelling softball team the King & His Court where he pitched a three hitter with a final score of 0 - 0; a feat of which he was very proud of. When his wife, Eileen, was a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, Sonny enjoyed helping the scouts build and fine tune their pinewood derby cars.

Sonny is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Eileen; four sons, Ralph Jr., Richard, Ronald, and Louis (Mary Jane) Ellison; three daughters, Robin (Donald) Long, RoseMarie (Edmund) DeLooze, Erin Ellison; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; brother, Daniel Ellison; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by an infant son, Randall Ellison; brother, Walter Ellison; sisters, Marjorie VonBergen, Anna Mae Millard, Caroline Morey, and Flossie Arndt.

Sonny's family would like to extend a special "Thank You" to Rochester Regional Hospice, especially Katie, Melissa, and Jean for their excellent care of Sonny during his last days.

Friends and relatives are invited for a time of visitation at Doran Funeral Home, 4 East Bayard St., Seneca Falls on Sunday, June 30th from 1 - 3 PM, where a funeral service and military honors will immediately follow. Donations in memory may be directed to Beverly Animal Shelter at beverlyanimalshelter.com.