Ted L. Ellis, longtime serving mayor of Bluffton, 79, passed away on Sunday morning, November 1, 2026, at Christian Care Retirement Community in Bluffton.
Ted is a native of Bluffton, Indiana, born on July 4, 1947 to Curtis “Pete” and Mary (Pinney) Ellis. He graduated from Lancaster High School in 1965 and then from Indiana University with a degree in economics in 1969.
Ted was elected six four-year terms as Mayor (1996-2020) after serving nine years on the Wells County Council and three as Wells County Auditor.
He served as President of the National League of Cities and is past Treasurer of United Cities and Local Governments (the international association representing local and regional governments and their national associations). He was the recipient of a John J. McCloy fellowship in Urban Affairs to study city issues in Germany. He is also past president of Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, and was named a “Sagamore of the Wabash” by the Governor of Indiana. The Indiana Association of Cities and Towns awarded him the Russell Lloyd Award for “outstanding contributions to local government.” Other awards include the Indiana Parks and Recreation Association’s Outstanding Service Award, the Hoosier State Press Association’s Sunshine Award for transparency in government and Wells County’s “Citizen of the Year” by the Wells County Chamber of Commerce.
Ted was Moderator of the First Baptist Church in Bluffton for over four decades. He served as an interim pastor for many years. His past service includes membership on boards of the American Baptist Churches of Indiana, Bluffton Regional Medical Center and the Wells County Foundation. His service on the Bluffton Street Fair Board has extended over nearly half a century.
He is a life member of the American Mensa Society.
On January 2, 1999, Ted and Margaret Tellman were married in Bluffton. Marge is a native of Holland, Michigan. They have been blessed with 27 years of marriage.
Survivors include his wife, Marge Ellis, children; Andy Ellis, Becky (Martin Dessart) Ellis and Melissa (Matt) Reiff, all of Bluffton and Scott Saucedo of Westfield, Indiana, along with ten grandchildren; Keaton (Taylor) Saucedo, Abigail (Brady) Manis, Jack Reiff, Alec (Emily) Reiff, Ella Redick, Lauren Reiff, Curtis Ellis, Nash Reiff, Luca Saucedo and Sebastian Ellis-Dessart, and three great-grandchildren; Xavier Saucedo, Ryker Saucedo and Lennyn Reiff. He is also survived by his sister, Jill (Ben) Baughan of Mechanicsville, VA and a niece, Jamie (Josh) Abercrombie.
Ted is preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be held from 2 P.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, (Nov. 5, 2026) at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton and for one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church.
Funeral Service will be at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, (Nov. 6, 2026) at the First Baptist Church, located at 202 West Cherry Street in Bluffton, with Rev. Lyle Breeding and Jeff Lemler officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Bluffton.
The family prefers memorials be made in Ted’s memory to the Rock Steady Boxing Program through the Bluffton Parks Department or to Stillwater Hospice Respite Care, and donations can be directed to the funeral home.
Ted’s arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lemler family of Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends may share online condolences with the family at www.thomarich.com.
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