Services for Wesley Paul Ellzey, who died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, at Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. James Episcopal Church with the Rev. Fred H. Tinsley Jr. officiating.

Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Hixon Brothers, Alexandria.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home and from noon until service time at the church.

Mr. Ellzey was born Nov. 27, 1915, in Osyka, son of Bertha Fortenberry and Grady Henry Ellzey.
Wesley was a graduate of Mississippi State University, receiving a B.S. degree in Agriculture and Science. Following graduation, he was employed as a teacher at Oak Hill High School in Rapides Parish for several years. He then served on active duty with the Navy in World War II from October 1942 to November 1945, as an AM2/c. With expertise as a metal smith instructor, he spent 18 months at Naval Technical Schools, and 18 months at Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron, operating in the Atlantic. While stationed in Jacksonville, Fla., he taught several classes of Free French sailors. Returning to active duty, he was employed as supervisor of the “G. I. Farm Training Program” for Rapides Parish, sponsored by the V.A. and the State of Louisiana. When the program ended 12 years later, he was again employed by the Rapides Parish School Board as a teacher over a period of 32 years, teaching primarily at Poland and Buckeye High Schools. Later he was employed by the Rapides Bank and Trust Company in Alexandria. He was an active member of the Louisiana Retired Teacher’s Association, serving as President. He was an active member of St. James Episcopal Church for more than 50 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Elaine Johnston Ellzey; a son, Paul Roger Ellzey; and brother, Carroll Ellzey.

Survivors include his sons, Michael Ellzey and wife, Tina, of Tucson, Ariz., Randall Ellzey and wife, Kristine, of Miami, and Stephen Ellzey and wife, Cindy, of Pollock; grandchildren, Laurel and Ryan of Tucson, Karen and Jonathan of Miami, and Colin and Wesley of Pollock, and Eric Ellzey of California; sisters, Odean Simmons of Columbia, La. and Ellen McDaniels of Yadkinville, N.C.; sister-in-law, Dorris Johnston Ware of Natchez; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Pallbearers will be Burnett Bordelon, Gary LaHood, Robert Geddie and Kenneth Poole.

Memorials may be made to the St. James Alter Guild Memorial Fund, 1620 Murray Street, Alexandria, LA 71301.