Dorothy T. Ellis' Obituary
Dorothy T. Ellis, age 94, of Lewes, DE, passed away on Monday, December 15, 2025, at Ocean Grove Post-Acute Nursing Facility. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to William and Dorothy P. Towner.
Ms. Ellis graduated from Conrad High School in June 1949 and attended Beacom College after graduation. She later left school and began working as a bookkeeper at the Sterling Auto facility, where she met our dad. She was married to William Bartosh at the age of 19, and together they had five children. William was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of 35 on Labor Day weekend, September 4, 1961— Delaware's only fatality that weekend.
Dorothy later worked at Hopkins Moving Company and Wilmington Trust, where she eventually retired. In 1984, she met Joe, and they were married and enjoyed 38 wonderful years together until Joe’s passing in 2024.
She was a devoted member of Conley United Methodist Church, where she loved singing in the choir and participated in the live nativity for several years. Dorothy is survived by four of her children: William Bartosh (Kathy), JoAnn Duffy (Rick Palatucci), Janice Thompson, and Don Bartosh (Marie); her stepdaughter, Dori Kennedy (John); as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Two of her favorite Bible verses were John 3:16 and Isaiah 43:2. She loved the Gospel song The Lighthouse. Ms. Ellis deeply loved her children, and her prayer for them was always that they would love each other and love God.
She will be deeply missed and forever loved by all the lives she touched.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE 19958, where family and friends may visit beginning at 10:00 AM.
All those unable to attend the services are invited to join the service via live streaming by visiting the following link:
https://www.parsellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/dorothy-ellis-21
Please sign the virtual guestbook located on the tribute page.
FLORIST NOTE: PLEASE HAVE ALL ARRANGEMENTS DELIVERED TO PARSELL FUNERAL HOMES, LEWES LOCATION, ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, BY 3:00PM
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