Ellis Thurman Respass, age 98, a resident of Brookdale Assisted Living in Greenville, died Thursday Oct. 3, 2019 at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019 at Second Baptist Church and will be officiated by Rev. John Koch and Rev. Phil Hayes. Trent Gillis, Braulton Dixon, Steven Respass, Woodson Furlough, Jr., Christopher Gillis and Neal Dixon will serve as pallbearers.

Burial will follow at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 at Rosewood Memorial Park in Virginia Beach, Virginia, 681 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462.

Mr. Respass was born on June 7, 1921 in Beaufort County to the late George Franklin Respass and Hattie Irene Alligood Respass. He served in the United States Army in World War II. Mr. Respass served as a police officer in Norfolk for 25 years until his retirement. He also retired after many years as a ferry boat captain on the Bayview Ferry. Mr. Respass was a long-time member of the Washington Masonic Lodge #675 A.F.A.M. and the Shriners.

Survivors include his daughter, Linda Tindall of Little River, South Carolina, a stepson Danny Scheepers and wife Joann of Wakefield, Virginia, stepdaughter Teresa Furlough and husband Woodson of Washington; fifteen grandchildren, and twenty-three great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Bessie Respass, his second wife, Dorothy Respass, this third wife Frances Lovett Respass, a son, Ellis Thurman Respass, Jr., a stepson, Henry Scheepers, a stepdaughter, Betty Lou Dunn, two brothers, George F. Respass, Jr., John L. Respass, two sisters, Irma Marie Respass, Sally Ann Respass, and a grandchild, Christopher Michael Respass.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2019 at Second Baptist Church until the funeral hour. Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern NC Chapter, 5171 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27612.

Condolences may be addressed to the family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com. Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Respass family.