Joe Ellis

October 19, 1928 - April 22, 2021

Joseph “Joe” Newlin Ellis, age 92, of Stuart, Florida and formerly of Gallatin, passed away Thursday, April 22, 2021 in Stuart, FL. Graveside services will be held Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 2pm in the Oakland Cemetery with Brother Randy Riggs officiating. No visitation will be held prior to the graveside service. Mr. Ellis was born October 19, 1928 in Springfield, TN to the late Richard and Pearl Fuqua Ellis. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, he liked baseball, NASCAR, and especially golfing. He graduated from Greenbrier High School. In 1963 Mr. Ellis was one of the founding members of LaSalle-Deitch Co., Inc., a distributor of products for the manufactured housing and recreational vehicle industry. He served as its President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman from 1971 until his retirement in 1992. In 1997 the company changed their name to LaSalle Bristol Corp when they merged with the BPC Division of Bristol Corporation and a subsidiary of Heywood Williams Group. After his retirement he continued to work as a management consultant. Mr. Ellis was a longstanding member of the Vanderbilt Eye Institute Advisory Board, serving from 2008-2021, taking on emeritus status in 2017 until his passing. During more than a 25-year association with the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Mr. Ellis provided leadership and inspiration to those with whom he served. In 2013 he was appointed Board Chairman and continued to work tirelessly to help patients and families living with the life-changing impact of eye disease. The Ellis family supported research and created an endowed chair held by their family physician and close friend, Dr. Karen Joos. In addition to his parents Mr. Ellis is preceded in death by his brother, Thurman Dean Ellis. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Harpster Ellis and his daughter, Patricia Ellis of Gallatin.