CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Addison Dunlap “A.D.” Ellison, Jr., 89, of Clarksville, Ind. formerly of Charleston, W.Va., entered the Church Triumphant on February 25, 2011.
He was pastor Emeritus of First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, W.Va.
A.D. was born on June 25, 1921 in Charleston, W.Va. and grew up on the Ellison farm in Monroe County which dates back to 1774.
He attended schools in Morgantown for eight years concluding with his freshman year at WVU, then graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1942 from Hampden-Sydney College.
He was a member of Eta Sigma Phi, Classics honorary fraternity.
A.D. was ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Upon graduation from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary in 1945 he was a Navy Champlain for two years.
He served numerous churches in Charleston and throughout West Virginia and was Executive Presbyter in the former Kanawha Presbytery. A.D. also served churches in Kentucky, Ind., and Raleigh, N.C. from which he retired in 1988.
He was Interim Minister within the Presbytery of WV for 11 years, retiring again in 1999. In 1981 he received the Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Seminary in Chicago, and in 2010 he was honored with the Distinguished Alum Award from Louisville Seminary.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Addison D. and Emma Kyle Ellison, one brother, four sisters, and his sons, Andrew Wyrick Ellison.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joan Wyrick Ellison of Clarksville, Ind., sons Thomas Kyle Ellison (Cassandra) of Louisville; Zack Dunlap Ellison (Glinda) of Columbus, Ind.; and daughter, Greer Ellison Wolfson (Harvey) of Palo Alto, Calif.; a brother, R. Warren Ellison (Judy); four granddaughters and three great-grandsons.
A.D. loved his congregations. He had the heart of a pastor and people knew he genuinely cared about them. In each of his pastorates he actively participated in community, ecumenical and Presbytery life.
He loved music and used his beautiful voice to the glory of God. His ministry was characterized by faithful visitation, pastoral concerns, and personal relationships.
Early in his ministry he served as Counselor/Director of Youth Camps in WV. To many former campers he was know as, “Uncle A.D.”
His body has been dedicated of U of L Medical School. It was his way of “going into medicine.”
A celebration of his faithful life will be held noon Saturday, March 5 at Westminster Village, Clarksville, Ind.
Gifts in A.D.’s memory may be given to Hospice, Lupus Foundation of America, or to the Louisville Theological Presbyterian Seminary.
Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, W.Va. has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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