Mr. William Troy Ellis, Sr., age 47, of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life Tuesday evening, August 6, 2013 at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. William was born December 4, 1965 in Dalton, Georgia, a son of the late Lloyd George and Barbara Ann Walston Ellis. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Anthony George Ellis.

William was a welder by trade but loved his job with the Whitfield County School system as a bus driver and the many children that he came in contact with daily. He was also the owner of Brotherhood Masonic Apron. He was a York Rite Mason and a member of the Dalton F & AM Masonic Lodge #105 where he was currently serving as the Worshipful Master. He was also a member of the Yarrab Shrine Temple and the Dalton Shrine Club. He was a member of the Newtown Baptist Church in Calhoun, Georgia.

He is survived by his wife of twenty five years, Debbie Browning Ellis; daughters and son-in-law, Miranda and Dan Wicker of Woodstock, GA, Crystal "Crissy" Ellis of Chatsworth, GA; sons and daughter-in-law, William Troy "Junior" and Jennifer Ellis, Jr. of Chatsworth, GA, Kyle Garrett Ellis of Dalton, GA; sister, Camella Sue Silvers of Chatsworth, GA; grandchildren, Javen Chandler Gibson, Emilee Nicole Gibson, Joshua Lucas Wicker, Brayden Nathaniel Rittenhouse, Emma Lucille Wicker and Harper William Ellis; father-in-law, William Henry Browning of Yulee, FL; special friend, Jay Johnson of Dalton, GA; and his very special friends and brothers at Dalton F & AM Masonic Lodge #105.

Services to celebrate the life of Mr. William Troy Ellis will be held Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. at Ponders Melrose Chapel with Reverend David Ray and Reverend Tony Robertson officiating. He will be laid to at the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery with the member of Dalton Lodge #105 serving as pallbearers and conducting Masonic graveside honors.

The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday and after 10:00 a.m. Saturday until the service hour.

Arrangements by, Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, GA 30721, 706-226-4002. www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org and www.ogr.org