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Birth:          18 Jul 1920 Morristown, N.J.
Death:          3 May 2009 Mendenhall, Pa.
Cause of Death: Alzheimer's disease
Burial:         9 May 2009 Memorial Garden of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, Del.

Notes
!PUBL
1981 book:
In 1981, Nicky and her family lived at Hillendale Rd., Mendenhall, Pa. 19357.
Source: Leeds Gen.; CCHS; Winifred Ellis (her)
1930 in Wilmington, Del.
Winifred Nixon Ellis - Founder of park dies at age 88: Newspaper Obituary and Death 
Notice
Daily Local News (West Chester, PA) - May 16, 2009
Deceased Name: Winifred Nixon Ellis - Founder of park dies at age 88
By Fran Maye 


Special to the Local News 

The woman who was responsible for bringing Anson B. Nixon Park to Kennett Square 
has died. 

Winifred Nixon Ellis, 88, of Mendenhall, died Monday, May 3, due to complications 
brought on by Alzheimer's Disease. 

"She was the spark plug for that park," said Thomas Ellis, her son. "She saw it 
through." 

Winifred, or "Nicky," as she was known, promised her father that she would do 
everything she could to take the 88-plus acres of land, which was once a landfill, and 
make it into a park where kids can play. 

"My grandfather envisioned that one day after he was gone that the property could be 
used for athletic fields," Ellis said. "It was her devotion to his memory." 

So in the 1980s, Nicky devoted her life to making sure the land that was once used as 
a landfill would be converted into a park that Kennett Square could be proud of. 

"I think it's great to see that the well-run annual 10K Kennett Run ends where it does, 
at a lake at the park," Ellis said. 

The fondest memory of his mother, Ellis said, was when she would travel with the 
soldiers during World War II. She worked with the Red Cross and helped to serve 
coffee and doughnuts to the soldiers. She landed in Normandy just one week after the 
troops had invaded. 

When the war was over, she returned to live with her parents on the Nixon's Brightwyn 
Farm in Mendenhall. She received her master's degree in education from the 
University of Delaware. 

She spoke several languages and was an accomplished piano player. 

"All of her life, she was community-minded," Ellis said. 

In a published interview shortly after the park opened, Nicky said she was proud of 
her contribution. "The park is the culmination of many years of thinking and working 
toward a park," she said. "We hope that it will mean more and more to the community 
as years go by, and as we improve the park with more trails and improved facilities, 
and eventually, active recreation on the surface of a closed landfill." Edition: 
COMMON
Page: 3

Winifred Nixon Ellis, 88: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Kennett Paper, The (PA) - May 14, 2009
Deceased Name: Winifred Nixon Ellis, 88
Winifred Nixon Ellis, age, 88, of Mendenhall, PA, passed away Monday evening due to 
complications brought on by Alzheimer's. Nicky, as she was known to her many 
friends, was born to Edith Harper Nixon and Anson Benoa Nixon in Morristown, New 
Jersey. She grew up in Wilmington, Delaware and attended public schools until a 
teacher gave her math problems as punishment. In protest her father transferred her to 
Wilmington Friends School. She went on to graduate from Scripps College in 
Claremont, California where she studied Romance languages. 

When war broke out in Europe, she was eager, though under age, to join the Red 
Cross and serve the troops and the country she loved. Her memories of the valor of 
the soldiers and the devastation of the war remained her most salient experience. 
When the war ended, Nicky returned to live with her parents on the Nixon's Brightwyn 
Farm in Mendenhall. She went to work for the Hercules Powder Company and 
completed a Master's degree in Education from the University of Delaware. In 1947 
she married William Charles Ellis, and they raised four children. They were devoted to 
each other. 

Nicky became a wonderful, loving mother and grandmother, a passionate gardener, 
and an active contributor of time and energy to her Kennett Square community. 
Following in her father's footsteps, Nicky played an integral role in creating the Anson 
B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square, now popular spot for numerous neighborhood 
happenings. She loved music and played the piano with great skill, usually with one of 
her beloved German Shepherds underfoot. 

She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, and is survived by her four 
children: William Robert Ellis and his wife Sallie, Michael Nixon Ellis and his wife Effie, 
Thomas Harper Ellis and his wife Debbie, and Edith Patricia Ellis, as well as six 
grandchildren; Ryan W. C. Ellis, Leslie E. Riley, Anson N. Ellis, Leigh A. Ellis, Sophia 
W. Erensel, and Drew E. Erensel. They will miss her enthusiasm for finding the beauty 
in life, the sparkle of her eyes, and her loving, friendly manner. 

Interment took place on Saturday May 9, 2009 at 11:30 am in the Memorial Garden of 
Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, 501, East Buck Road, Wilmington, DE. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Nicky's name to the Anson B. 
Nixon Park, C/O Kennett Area Park Association, P. O. Box 1121, Kennett Square, PA 
19348. 

Arrangements by McCrary Funeral Parlor. Page: A5
grandchildren who belongs to whom? 
fb Anson Ellis sister L Andrea Marie, he Salesianum Sch 2002, Univ of Del finance, 
business admin
fb also has a Cameron Taylor Ellis and an Andrew Chew Ellis (see also peoplefinders). 
appear to be children of one of the grandchildren

Parents
NIXON Anson Benoa (18 Oct 1890 - 4 Jul 1960)
HARPER Anna Edith ("Edith") (21 Aug 1896 - 14 Jun 1964)

Siblings
NIXON Winifred ("Nicky") (18 Jul 1920 - 3 May 2009)

Marriage To ELLIS William Charles (25 Dec 1915 - 23 Aug 2004)
    m. 2 Jul 1947 Wilmington, Del.

Notes

Parents
ELLIS William Robert ()
O'KEEFE Debra ()

Children by ELLIS William Charles 25 Dec 1915 - 23 Aug 2004
ELLIS William Robert ()
ELLIS Michael Nixon ()
ELLIS Thomas Harper ()
ELLIS Edith Patricia ()

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