Obituaries

Services Set for Simpsonville Plane Crash Victim

John Ellenberg was one of two Simpsonville residents killed last month in a plane crash in Alaska.

John D. Ellenberg, 74, of Simpsonville, died Friday, June 28, 2013, in a plane crash near Cantwell, Alaska.

John was born August 30, 1939 in Durham, NC, the son to Rev. John Vinson Ellenberg and Lois Ellenberg.

John was a graduate of North Carolina State University where he majored in chemical engineering. While there he received many honors, was a member of the Arnold Air Society and served in the AFROTC as a squadron commander and went on to serve in the Air Force reserves.

He 'retired' from his professional career when he was around 45 to pursue his love and passion of flying full time. He was an accomplished pilot with more than 10,000 flight hours, a certified flight instructor and licensed aircraft mechanic with inspection authority. He had a reputation within the flying community of always helping others.

John is survived by his daughter, Michele Brooks of Fountain Inn along with her husband, Tom, his grandchildren, Ellie and Mason, one sister, Jean Allen and husband Solomon of Greensboro, NC, and a brother, Bob Ellenberg and his wife Karen of Louisiana along with many loving aunts and cousins.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 11, 2013 at 2:00 PM at Brookwood Church, 580 Brookwood Point Pl, Simpsonville, SC with Rev. Stephen Taylor, cousin of John, officiating. Family visitation will be at the church from 1:00 PM until time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Angel Flight www.angelflight.org or Kids in Flight, www.kidsinflight.org

A celebration of John's life will be held at the Greenville Downtown Airport following the memorial service.


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