Joe Edward Ellis, age 87, of Cincinnati, Ohio passed away on November 13th, 2025.  He was born at home on September 9th, 1938 in Rutherford County, North Carolina, to Jessie and Arrie Ellis. The family soon moved to the town of Earl, in Cleveland County, where he spent his formative years. Joe and his family would return to visit many times, and his mother was elected to be the town's mayor in the 1980s, a position she held for around 20 years.

After graduating from high school in Cleveland County in 1958, Joe attended Gardner-Webb University for two years before transferring to Clemson University, earning his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1963. It was during a visit back to Earl during his college years that he first met Kay Jones (b. 1941), a college classmate of his younger sister Brenda.

Joe accepted a position as an engineer with General Electric and moved to Cincinnati in 1963, which also happened to be home to Kay. The two became re-acquainted, started dating, and eventually married in 1965. Together they raised two sons, David (1968-2006), and Paul (b. 1971).

He spent the next 37 years working for General Electric, primarily in the aircraft engines department. He retired at the end of 2000, but continued on as a consultant for several years. Many of his coworkers became lifelong friends. His work for GE took Joe to many places that he grew to love over the years, especially Paris and Toulouse in France, as well as American cities such as Boston and Baltimore.

Joe and Kay eventually settled in the Kenwood suburb, just outside of Cincinnati, with sons David and Paul. Joe was a devoted father and husband, coaching sports and encouraging David's growing interest in competitive cycling and Paul's love of playing the drums, passions that would extend into adulthood for both. David married Frederique Zelani, and their child Julien (b. 2000) was much beloved by "Papi Joe" and "Mami Kay". Paul married Bekah Williams, and she became a cherished daughter-in-law to both.

In July of 2025, Joe and Kay celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Joe was a talented artist, and many of his works are displayed in the family home. He and Kay were also great fans of art, and were frequent visitors to the Cincinnati Art Museum as well as the MOMA in New York and Art Institute in Chicago. The couple enjoyed traveling, as well as going out in Cincinnati, frequenting the Cincinnati Ballet and the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, where they were members for over 25 years.

Joe was preceded in death by both of his parents as well as his oldest child, David. He is survived by his wife Kay, sisters Brenda Dunlevy and Patti Norman, his son Paul, grandchild Julien, daughters-in-law Bekah and Frederique, and multiple nieces and nephews.