Henry Drew (Red) Ellender, 95, died peacefully in his home on April 18, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 25, 1928, to Herman Drew and Elia Benoit Ellender. He was a native of Thornwell/Welsh, graduated from Welsh High School, and joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. 

He was a faithful member of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church, a past member of the Knights of Columbus and the Sulphur High Booster Club. He was a retired member of the Boilermaker union and worked as a welder. He’ll always be known for his bar-b-que and large garden, and he loved gifting his bounty. 

Survivors include his children, Kenneth Ellender (Karen), Donald Ellender (Melinda), Richard Ellender (Elaine), Christine Brannon (Duke), and Susan Dorrill (Robert); his grandchildren, Stash Ellender, Derrick Ellender (Bethany), Landon Ellender (Ruth), Lindsay Ernst (Joel), Rebecca Fleisher (Ethan), Lizzie Brannon, Jack Dorrill, Cade Dorrill; nine great-grandchildren; and his sister, Anita (Nita) Degeyter. 

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of nearly 72 years, Marjorie Vincent Ellender; his parents; his sister, Rita Ellender Miller; his brother, DJ Ellender; and his grandson, Chad Dorrill.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m.  Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Sulphur, La., with Father Michael Beverung officiating. Burial will be in Mimosa Pines South Cemetery in Carlyss under the direction of Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Saturday, from 11 a.m. until the procession to the church. 

The family would like to extend special thanks to Heart of Hospice; Henry’s caregivers, Joyce Logue, Cassie Clark, and Patsy McFarlain, and the others who provided care over the years. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to be made to the Chad Dorrill Memorial Scholarship Fund, 147 Wentworth Drive, Winston Salem, NC. 27107-6169.