The Winston-Salem Journal has reported the death of oboist, teacher, and oenologist John Ellis. The obit, reprinted from the Journal, appears below.
Mocksville 3/26/1943 – 11/09/2015 John Ellis, 72, was born in Los Angeles, CA. He played oboe professionally for many years for various motion picture soundtracks, playing under such notable composers as John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith and many others. After moving to NC, he taught at UNCSA for 26 years and continued playing professionally with the Winston Salem Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and traveled back to LA on occasion to make many other famous soundtrack recordings. When he retired in 2010, he decided to pursue his interests of planting a vineyard and making wine. He was thrilled to open Chestnut Trail Vineyard with his family in January 2015. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he also highly treasured his time volunteering to record music with the Watchtower Orchestra in Patterson, NY. He died peacefully after a long battle with cancer at Forsyth Hospital in Winston Salem. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Claudia, their children John, Rob, Cristine, James, Daniel and their spouses as well as 13 grandchildren, his brother David and sister Margaret. He was preceded in death by his son, Brian. Memorial services will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1304 County Home Rd., Mocksville at 2 pm on Saturday, November 14th.
