PD Ellard December 2, 1931 - September 17, 2012

Paul Douglas (P.D.) Ellard, 80, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, went home to be with the Lord on September 17, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer.
P.D. was born to Paul. and Jewel Ellard on December 2, 1931 in Cyril, Oklahoma. P.D. moved with his family to Bethany, Oklahoma in 1936. He graduated from Bethany High School in 1949. P.D. married his high school sweetheart, Patricia (Pat) Uselding, in March 1951, on the eve of his deployment to Japan and Korea with the 45th Infantry Division.
After serving his country honorably, P.D. returned to Oklahoma where soon after he began his career with the US Postal Service. He graduated from Central State College (now the University of Central Oklahoma) in 1971. P.D. eventually rose to the position of budget analyst for the Post Office, and worked in that capacity until his retirement.
P.D. was an active member of Bethany Church of Christ, where he served as both elder and deacon. He was a gifted Bible teacher. Later, he and Pat attended Cherokee Hills Church of Christ.
P.D. was predeceased by his parents and his sisters, Janelle Ellard and Jane Kinnin.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, sons Jon (Shelly) Ellard of Edmond and Mark (Sandi)Ellard of Broken Arrow, daughters Deborah (Mike) Harvey of Grand Junction, Colorado, Susan Ellard of Naples, Florida, and Amy (Dr. Will) Holloway of Oklahoma City. HIs fourteen grandchildren were great sources of pleasure and pride. P.D. is also survived by his sister, Gail (Bill) White of Springfield, Missouri, and many nieces and nephews.
We will honor P.D.'s life during graveside services at 10 am on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at Bethany Cemetery. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.