William ("Bill") Belven Ellinger was born on November 2, 1933 in Palmyra, Pennsylvania to William Schoolman Ellinger and Dorothy Jean Moyer. He died on Thursday, July 22, 2010 in Leesburg, VA.

Bill spent his childhood in the coal mining town of Shickshinny, Pennsylvania, where he was captain of the high school basketball and football teams. He graduated from Bloomsburg State University with a Bachelors of Science in Education. He played both college football and basketball. Later he continued his education at the George Washington University where he earned a Masters of Arts in Education and a Doctorate of Education. He was a teacher at Surrattsville High School for five years, Vice Principal at Oxon Hill Junior High School for four years, and Principal of Eugene Burroughs Jr. High School in Accokeek, Maryland for eight years.

In 1972, he changed careers and obtained a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law and practiced law in Charles County, Maryland with Mitchell & Ellinger, P.A. for thirty years. He served a term as president of the Charles County Bar Association.

Bill loved traveling, gardening, reading, watching sports, working outdoors, spending time at the beach, and being with his seven grandchildren. He also loved history and sports and often shared stories about both with family and friends. For much of his life, Bill spent summers and weekends on the Northern Neck of Virginia. He worked on renovating and restoring three old farmhouses near Lancaster, Virginia.

He was a very devoted and attentive father to his three children, William B. Ellinger II of Port Tobacco, Maryland, Melony Joe Ellinger of Alexandria, Virginia, and Heather Frisson Keeton of Leesburg, Virginia. His grandchildren, Claire Ellinger (age 2), Emilie Frisson (age 12), Austin Keeton (age 5), Laura Comey (age 4), Mark Comey (age 15), Brian Comey (age 15), and Matthew Comey (age 17), adored him and affectionately referred to him as "Pop Pop" or "Big Daddy." Bill is also survived by his brother, James Ellinger of Chicago, Illinois. He will be dearly missed by all his family and friends.

Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 4 pm at Sterling United Methodist Church located at 304 East Church Road, Sterling, Virginia 20164. The family invites everyone to the church hall following the service for refreshments.

Contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Sterling United Methodist Church, Endowment Fund, 304 East Church Road, Sterling Virginia 20164.

Arrangements provided by Colonial Funeral Home of Leesburg, Virginia.