Walter Ellis Jr., 86, passed away Saturday, April 2, 2011, with his family by his side at Compassionate Care Hospice, in Trenton. Born in Trenton, he was raised on a truck farm in Penns Manor, Bucks County, PA and was a graduate of Falls Township High School. He enlisted in the Army in 1943, participated in the ASTP program at Pasadena Junior College in California and served with the 13 ^th Armored Division in the European Theater.

After the Army, Walt became a partner with his father on the family farm. In 1951 they moved their farming operation to Yardville, NJ. He and his son Scott, who now runs the farm, raise sweet corn and grain.

Walt was President of the New Jersey Farm Bureau from 1982 to 1988, former President of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture and  former President of the Board of Managers of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.  He served as president of the Vegetable Growers Association of NJ and became president of the Mercer County Board of Agriculture after holding every office. Walt was also president of the Crosswicks Insurance Company. He has served as Chairman of the American Farm Bureau Federation Vegetable and Potato Advisory Committee. He was a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of Farm Family Life and Mutual Insurance Companies, and member of the Board of Directors of the Garden State Hospitalization Plan. Walt was an honorary member of the NJ Agricultural Society, member of the Princeton Agricultural Assoc. and Society and a trustee of the New Jersey State Agricultural Museum.  He was a member of the NJ Horticultural Council, NJ Electrification Council and was appointed by the Governor to the Rural Advisory Council and the Water Supply Advisory Council. He served on the small Business Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Walt was an active member of the Crosswicks United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Nancy Ellis (nee Salisbury), his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Roland Wills of Mission Viejo, CA, his son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Charmaine Ellis of Yardville, four grandchildren, Casey Fraser and her husband Ian of San Diego, CA, Kiley DaPena and her husband Derek of Green Bay, WI, Erin Ellis of San Francisco, CA and Lauren Ellis of Feasterville, PA., four great grandchildren, Braxton, Avery, Kasen and June, his niece Donna Cream and her husband Ron of Columbus, NJ and his nephew, John Ellis and his wife Marilyn of Yardley, PA.

Funeral Services will be 11 am Friday, April 8 at the Crosswicks United Methodist Church, Ward Ave and Church St., Crosswicks, NJ. Interment will follow in North Crosswicks Cemetery, Hamilton Twp. Friends may call Thursday evening 6 to 8 pm at the Peppler Funeral Home, 114 S. Main St., Allentown, NJ and again Friday morning 10 am until time of service at the church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Crosswicks United Methodist Church, P.O Box 303 Crosswicks, NJ 08515.