Edna Ellis

Edna Lea Ellis (94), formerly of Hartwell, Springfield Township and Mason, Ohio, passed away on June 10, 2023.  Edna was the wife of Donald Frederick Ellis (deceased 2020) for 70 years.  She was the daughter of the late Walter Bernard Eppinghoff (Epp) and Ruth Stropel Eppinghoff of Hartwell, mother of Kathi Ellis, Barbara Oches (deceased 2005) and John (Patty) Ellis.  She leaves behind grandchildren Megan (Travis) Spears, Amanda Ellis, Lauren Ellis, Matthew (Tammy) Oches, Erin (Marko) Hobi and great grandsons Hayden Oches, Gavin Oches and Sloan Hobi.

Edna Lea worked at what was then First National Bank of Elmwood Place for over 35 years and was very well known by her patrons.  She started as a teller and later filled a variety of roles as the bank was acquired by Star and later US Bank.

Edna Lea also enjoyed volunteering.  She volunteered with her mother (Ruth) and aunts (Alice Towle, Edna Boebinger and Elizabeth Robinson) at various times at the Children’s Hospital Heart Mart in OTR and later at the Thrift Shop also in OTR.

When mom wasn’t working or volunteering, she enjoyed reading and was always up for a card game or two.  Her favorite was “Hand and Foot”.  She also loved going to garage sales or estate sales and collecting antiques.  She had a great eye for such items and her home was full of them.

Being an only child but growing up in a home with her mother and father, her grandmother, her grand aunt and at least one if not more aunts, she always had someone doting on her.  She attended the University of Cincinnati for a year or 2 but then quit to get married to her high school sweetheart in 1950 at the age of 21.  She was married to Donald for 70 years until May of 2020.  These last few years without him were really difficult for her.

She was a great mother, grandmother and friend to many.  We will miss her love, advice, strong will and kind heart very much.

We would like to thank the staff and administration at the Christian Village of Mason for all their help and care over the 20+ years that mom and dad resided there.

Visitation will be held Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Hodapp Funeral Home 8815 Cincinnati-Columbus Rd. (Rt. 42) West Chester, OH 45069 from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m.

Donations can be made to Sycamore Presbyterian Church, Hospice of Cincinnati or charity of one’s choice.