  William Thomas Sullivan 24 February 1925 - 3 May 2007 Ellen Routh Sullivan 3 August 1926 - 7 December 2011  wed 24 November 1949  Bill was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on February 24, 1925 to the late William T. Sullivan, Sr. and Anna Mae (Woods) Sullivan. Bill passed away Thursday, May 3 at Wilson N. Jones Medical Center, Sherman, Texas at the age of 82. He was the oldest of four boys and attended St. Jerome's Parochial School, where he graduated salutatorian of his class. Bill worked at the Springfield Armory throughout high school. Following high school he joined the US Army and attended New York University and CCNY while fulfilling his three year commitment to the Army. Upon his discharge he returned to Texas and enrolled at Texas Tech, graduating with a BA Degree. He later earned an MBA at SMU and was elected to the Beta Gamma Sigma. Bill and Ellen Black were married on November 24, 1949 in the St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Lubbock. They were Blessed with five children. Bill served as a policeman in Lubbock and went into the Highway Patrol for a period of time. He became interested in Industrial Security and worked at Chance Vaught Aircraft while working on his MBA. Bill was later hired by Texas Instruments to set up their Security Department and became one of the first members of the American Society of Industrial Security. He was employed at TI for 29 years, retiring in 1987. Bill was a longtime member of St. Mary's Catholic Parish and served the church in many ways. He was a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus having held membership for over 50 years. He also served on the board of directors for the Texoma Regional Blood Bank for over 30 years. Bill was a former board member of the Rehabilitation Center and past chairman of the Grayson County Republican Party. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Ellen; two sons, Frank of Abilene and John and his wife Cassandra of Houston; three daughters, Paula Schmidt and husband Peter of New Bedford, MA, Moira Cannata and husband Fred of Houston, and Ann Sullivan and her fiancee Bill Phipps of St. Louis, MO; one brother Michael Joseph Sullivan and wife Charlotte of Owings Mills, MD; and nine grandchildren. A rosary was recited by Deacon John LeBlanc at Waldo Funeral Home, Sherman. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with Reverend Jeremy Myers, Pastor of the church officiating. Burial with military honors was held at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers were members of the Knights of Columbus.  Ellen was born Perryton, Texas to the late Earl and Margaret (Malone) Black. She passed away in Sherman, Texas. She graduated from Sudan High School in 1943 before attending Texas Tech University. She earned certification as an X-Ray technologist and worked in the profession her entire adult life. On 24 November 1949, she married William T. Sullivan and had celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary before he passed away in May 2007. Ellen returned to college later in life and completed her bachelor's degree at East Texas State University in May 1978. She retired from Dr. Ralph Renshaw's office in 1988 to pursue her many interests including travel, gardening and the care of her beloved husband. Mrs. Sullivan was a member of the Rainbow Iris Society, the National Iris Society, and the Columbian Ladies Association. She also was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Parish for over forty years. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one daughter, Moira Ann Cannata. Mrs. Sullivan is survived by four children, William Francis Sullivan of Abilene, Texas, Paula Routh Schmidt and husband Peter of New Bedford, Massachusetts, John Daniel Sullivan and wife Cassandra of Houston, Texas and Ann Ellen Sullivan of Sherman; and eight grandchildren, Jaime Vernor, Nicholas Englutt, Brandon Englutt, Lance Englutt, Michaela Englutt, Shannon Sullivan, Michael Sullivan, and Ian Sullivan. A rosary will be recited at 6:00 PM Sunday December 11 at Waldo Funeral Home, Sherman. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial for Ellen Routh Black Sullivan will be held at 10:00 AM Monday December 12 at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Rev. Jeremy Myers of the church will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery with Knights of Columbus members, Frank Conti, Frank Garcia, Al Vrla, Ted Miller, Joe Engle, and Barney Sandmann serving as pallbearers. The family wants to extend heart-felt thanks to Ms. Darlene Tischler, who helped care for Ellen in her final days. Her loving care and support will be long remembered. St. Mary's Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 Grayson County TXGenWeb |
