Roger Theodore Ellis, 95, of Westlake Village, CA, passed away on February 11, 2021. Born in New York City, NY to Victor and Elizabeth Ellis on October 9, 1925, Roger loved to entertain. All the world was his stage and everyone he met, a player. With his witty sense of humor and love of music, Roger was always the life of the party. He attended Montclair High School in New Jersey then joined the US Army Air Corps in 1941. A WWII veteran, he proudly served with his beloved crew as flight engineer on a B-24 Liberator in the Pacific Front.
After the war, he earned a mechanical engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology. He met his wife, Scott, of 57 years at the Studio Playhouse in Montclair. After they were married on March 30, 1963, Roger was accepted at Imede International School of Business in Lausanne, Switzerland. The school was associated with Harvard Business School where Roger spent his second year graduating with a Masters in Business.
His career in aerospace brought the family to the West Coast where in 1969, they settled in the newly established town of Westlake Village, CA. They have been there ever since, raising 2 children, launching the Westlake Theatre Company and being strong supporters of Westlake Presbyterian and Calvary Community Church. Roger also had a lifelong love of airplanes and told many stories of flying his V-tail Bonanza. As he flies to Heaven, we’re sure he’s saying “Center the ball, center the needle and watch your airspeed!”.
Roger is survived by his loving wife Scott, daughter Tracey & son-in-law Vic, son Dean and daughter-in-law Diana and granddaughter Jenna.
Family and friends are invited to visiting hours at the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE, 757 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001 on Saturday, February 20 from 11:00AM to 4:00PM PST, and there will be an informal Celebration of Life at 1:00PM PST. Due to California regional COVID restrictions, there will be a limit of 10 guests per hour. The viewing and celebration will be available to attend on Zoom. Please contact the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home at (805) 643-8623 for registration and link details.
In light of the COVID pandemic, the family is postponing the full Celebration of Life event until summer or when it’s safe to gather. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Memories and condolences can be shared on Roger’s memorial webpage.