William Edwin Ellis Jr.

William Edwin Ellis Jr., 66, of Greenville, SC, died Wednesday, March 10, 2021 after a brief illness. Known as “Bill” to his family and “Ellis” to his closest friends, he was man who loved fun and a kind soul who will be remembered for his enormous heart.

Born in Charlotte, NC, Bill was the son of Louise “Ease” Dean Ellis and Dr. William Edwin “Ed” Ellis. He was the youngest of four siblings, and both of his parents were lifelong educators. The family eventually moved to Columbia, SC, where Bill attended A.C. Flora High School and was a “decent” player on the soccer team. He also drove a crazy blue Maverick that, to this day, classmates remember. Following high school Bill left for Clemson University, where he studied the minimal amount and still maintained a strong GPA. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity where, again, he was known for his car: a beige Jeep CJ that was inexplicably able to climb steps. He also squeezed four years of college into a five-year plan, graduating in 1977 with a degree in Financial Management.

In his college summers, Bill drove a Pepsi route, then was hired by PepsiCo full time after graduation. He later joined Budweiser of Columbia, a career he loved and through which he made many lifelong friends. He began as a salesman/driver (and always blamed his back trouble on the toting of kegs up the back stairs at Yesterdays) then worked his way up through the organization to become General Manager of Budweiser of Greenville. He later founded his own company, Upstate Restoration, which offered damage repair and fire remediation services to residential customers.

Throughout his life, Bill placed great importance on friendship. From the many formed in high school that are still central today, to the vast network he established through his work at Budweiser, to The Neighbors in Columbia, to the many people in his life over all the years in Greenville, including the beloved and caring neighbors there and at his favorite hangout, Ty’s—Bill was a collector of friends. He maintained those relationships over the decades because he paid attention to them. He always made time, and he always had a willing smile, and he was always good for a laugh.

The great pride of Bill’s life, as well as its greatest love and joy, was his daughter, Eliza Louise Ellis. From the time she was a baby, he affectionately called her Lou.

He also held abiding love for two dogs: Sadie, a golden retriever so adorable even his parents let her sleep on their couch; and Bandit, Bill’s devoted sidekick and companion.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Eliza Louise Ellis, and her fiancé, Preston Woods Doyle of Columbia; sisters Dr. Mary Elizabeth Ellis of Jamaica, New York, and Ann Louise Ellis of Columbia; niece Emma Elizabeth Ellis of Charlotte, NC; cousins Jean Suber Griffin and Buck Griffin of Greenwood, and Sarah Suber Deal of Ninety-Six; and a host of other cousins. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Staff Sgt. Raymond Dean Ellis, P.H.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 11 a.m. in the chapel at Cremation Society of South Carolina – Westville Funerals, located at 6010 White Horse Road in Greenville. Pastor Roy McCall of Marathon Church will officiate. The family requests that social distancing protocols be followed. Memorials may be made to the pet rescue organization of your choice.
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