Francis Ellis Benjamin, Jr.

Known as Ellis Jr. by the family, he was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland and spent most of his life in the Havre de Grace and Port Deposit, Maryland area.  He was the son of the late Francis Ellis Benjamin Sr., a local businessman in the Port Deposit area and his mother, the late Mildred Benjamin, who taught English for many years at Perryville High School.  He attended the University of Maryland, worked for Dupont and retired from Battelle Edgewood Operations as Industrial Hygiene Technician, specializing in air quality testing as a contractor at Edgewood Area, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Ellis spent most of his working life in the Maryland National Guard. In his spare time Ellis loved old cars, and cruising in his Sea Ray boat on the Susquehanna River. He is survived by his sister, Joan W. Denaro and her husband, Carl Rodrigues, and niece, Nicole Denaro, all of Groton, Massachusetts. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tome United Methodist Church of Port Deposit, MD, in care of Lee A. Patterson & Son Funeral Home, P.A., P.O. Box 766, Perryville, MD 21903-0766. Funeral Services are scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2013, 12 Noon, at the Lee A. Patterson & Son Funeral Home, P.A., Perryville, MD.  Visitation for family and friends will be held Saturday, March 2, 2013, 11 AM until 12 Noon, at the funeral home prior to the funeral service. Pastor Dr. Willard S. Crossan , III, of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, Colora, MD, will officiate. Interment will be in Hopewell Cemetery, Port Deposit, MD. Arrangements By Lee A. Patterson & Son Funeral Home, P.A., Perryville, MD www.pattersonfuneralhomemd.com