Winfield — He was born April 9, 1922, south of Dexter, the son of William Theodore and Sylvia Alice (Glass) Nellis. He attended grade school at Highland District No. 124 and graduated from Dexter High School in 1940. He then attended welding school in Winfield.
In 1941, Mr. Nellis moved to Wichita, where he was employed at Beech Aircraft. He served in the U.S. Army from July 1943 to Nov. 1945, serving with the 104th Infantry Division, the Timberwolves, in Holland, Northern France and Germany. He was a technical sergeant when he was discharged from the 413th Infantry Regiment.
He returned to work at Beech Aircraft. In 1949, he returned to the family farm near Dexter. He was a self-employed carpenter and had also worked for Callison Construction and later Sherrard Builders, both in Winfield. He was a farmer and stockman.
Mr. Nellis was a member of Dexter Christian Church, where he had served as chairman of the board for many years and was currently serving as an elder. He was also a member of the Bicentennial Post No. 225 of the American Legion.
He married Freda Mildred Bennett on April 19, 1942, in Winfield. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include a son, Norman, Topeka; two daughters, Janet Shorter, rural Winfield, and Virginia Hensley, Arkansas City; two brothers, Melvin, Arkansas City, and Ed, Lawrence; a sister, Doris Davidson, Topeka; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday at Miles Funeral Service, Winfield. The family will greet friends from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the church.
The family suggests memorials to the church, sent in care of the funeral home, 4001 E. Ninth St., Winfield 67156.
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