It is with heavy heart that I announce the death of my wife of 47 years Ellen Margaret Grass Stoltz. She passed away on Friday August 8, 2025.
Ellen was born in Alexandria, LA on August 31,1952 to Lucian and Maxine Grass. She was preceded in death by her father Lucian, brother Garland, and brother in law Kelly Pace. She is survived by her husband David, her mother Maxine and sisters Nancy Ferguson (Mike) and Sally Pace. She is also survived by her sons, Eric (Elizabeth) and Kevin (Hallie) and three grandsons Alan, Connor, and Ethan.
Ellen graduated from Bolton High School in Alexandria and Charity School of Nursing in New Orleans. She joined the Louisiana Army National Guard and was assigned to the 159th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) and attached to the Louisiana Military Academy Officer Candidate School as a staff nurse and instructor. This is where she met her future husband. Ellen was later attached to the 199th CBT SPT Battalion in Alexandria as a nurse advisor and instructor.
Ellen was heavily involved with Soldier’s Angels as part of the baking and letter writing teams. She loved it when a service member responded to one of her letters. She was also part of the special forces support team sending snacks and personal items which were in short supply. Having had two sons serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, she knew what that support meant to the troops.
One of the highlights of her life was our involvement in ballroom dancing. We spent many hours in classes and travelled extensively, attending dance conventions and competitions. We were members of Tammany Twirlers Square and Round Dance Club for many years and greatly enjoyed the many friendships we developed through dancing.
During the pandemic she organized a group of friends to make masks for hospital personnel at The Villages Hospital.
Ellen loved life and living in The Villages, FL. She loved our afternoon golf cart rides, playing Mahjong and cards with her friends, and she especially loved going out with her friends for two martini lunches. She will be missed by all.