Donald Joseph Ellison of Bullville, N.Y., a lifetime area resident, died on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019, at his home following a long battle with cancer. He was 71.
Son of the late Walter and Mary Stanton Ellison, he was born on May 30, 1948, in Port Jervis, N.Y.
Don graduated from Port Jervis High School Class of 1967. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War until 1972. He married Cynthia Langbein on Aug. 25, 1973, at North Congregational Church.
Don studied Nursing at Orange County Community College, earning his degree in 1975. He worked as a registered nurse at Orange Regional Medical Center for 35 years. He was awarded the Trilogy Award for being a Nurse of Distinction.
Don brought his hard work ethic and energy to all of his endeavors. He never said no to anyone and no one was a stranger to him. He gave himself generously to his family, friends and community
.He was a dedicated member of Bullville Fire Department for 42 years, he was Fireman of the Year in both 1995 and 2003. During his firematic career, he served as president, secretary, past-president and past-secretary. He was a member and past-commander and past-quarter master of the American Legion Post 151; member, past-commander, and past-quartermaster of VFW Post 692 in Middletown, N.Y., and past-county quartermaster.
Don also volunteered for many years as the caretaker of Circleville Cemetery. He was a member of the Orange Countty Bike Club and enjoyed being out the road on his bike or in his beloved Mustang.
He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia, at home; sons, Jeffrey and his wife, Lindsey, of Leaksville, Miss., and Marc and his partner, Ramon Ruiz, of Goshen, N.Y.; his mother-in-law Christine Langbein; brother Kenneth of Ridgebury; sisters-in-law, Joanne Jones, Nancy Ellison and Diana Ellison; brother-in-law, Stephen Langbein, and his wife, Cindy; grandchildren, Gianna, Elijah, and Jacob Harvison; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation was held Aug. 30 at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral service was held Aug. 31 at Circleville Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Burial with military honors was held immediately following in the Ellison family plot.
Memorial contributions may be made to one of his favorite organizations, the Middletown VFW Post 692; Circleville Presbyterian Church, 890 Goshen Turnpike, Middletown, NY 10941; or the Bullville Fire Department 2891 NY-17K, Bullville, NY 10915.