The Rev. James Harry Ellerbrook, 94, of Indianapolis, IN, died on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016.
A memorial service will be held the week of Jan. 9, at Westminster Village North for WVN friends with Chaplain Worth Hartman officiating. A private family funeral service will be held on Jan. 7, at Allisonville Christian Church with the Rev. Diane Spleth officiating. Burial will follow at the Palestine, IL cemetery.
A public memorial celebration of life will be held on April 2, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Allisonville Christian Church in Indianapolis with the Rev. Diane Spleth officiating.
Flinn and Maguire Funeral Home in Franklin, IN is in charge of arrangements.
The Rev. Ellerbrook was born on April 3, 1922, in Washington, DC, to the late Harry Kelsey and Matilda May (Evans) Ellerbrook. He married Ada Margaret Cochran on Oct. 1, 1943, in Butler University's Sweeney Chapel in Indianapolis, IN, and she preceded him in death.
He grew up in the Washington DC area.
The Rev. Ellerbrook earned his bachelor's degree from Butler University in 1943 and a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1947.
During his career, he served as a Disciples of Christ minister for 40 years.
He served as a minister at several churches including First Christian Church in Morocco, IN, from 1947 to 1949; Indiana Avenue Christian Church in South Bend, IN, from 1949 to 1956; Tabernacle Christian Church in Franklin, IN, from 1956 to 1966; Union Avenue Christian Church in Litchfield from 1966 to 1980; and First Christian Church in Sullivan from 1980 to 1987.
The Rev. Ellerbrook was a member of Kiwanis, the Masonic Lodge, Disciples of Christ Ministerial Association, Illinois Library Board and served as president of Goodwill Industries in South Bend, IN.
The couple had three children, James Clifford (Barbara), Niel Cochran (Karen) and Ann; ten grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to Habitat for Humanity.
