Ellen Ann Sluss

Ellen Ann (Stoffer) Sluss, age 98, of Sebring, passed away on May 22, 2023 at Copeland Oaks.

Ellen, the daughter of Paul and Lavenia (Daugherty) Stoffer, was born May 5, 1925 at her maternal grandparents’ home in West Lafayette, Ohio.  She grew up in the North Georgetown and Homeworth areas where she attended one and two room schools through the 8th grade.  She graduated from Alliance High School in 1942 and graduated from Ashland College in 1946 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English and speech.  Ellen married Ray C. Sluss on June 1, 1947.

She taught high school English and speech in Doylestown (Wayne County) and Jeromesville (Ashland County) high schools.  She also was a continuity writer and broadcaster for WATG FM in Ashland during the station’s beginning years.

In 1962, her husband was transferred from Kent, Ohio to Evanston, Illinois.  The young family moved to Winnetka, a northern suburb of Chicago, where she and Ray lived for 44 years.

While in Winnetka she was active in church affairs and local politics.  She sang in the chancel choir of Trinity Church (Methodist) of the North Shore in Wilmette.  She served on the church’s Board of Trustees for 20 years and was an active member of the United Methodist Women, serving as president and other offices.  After she and Ray moved to Copeland Oaks in Sebring, Ohio in 2006 she became a member of Union Avenue United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir for several years. 

Ellen was an election judge for 33 years and was also an active member of the Women’s Republican Club of New Trier Township (Cook County - Chicago) as president and chairman of the candidates’ committee, interviewing and recommending candidates prior to primary elections. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Lavenia Stoffer; by her brother, Thomas Stoffer (Donna) of Ashland; and by Ray, her husband of 71  years.

She is survived by their three children, Michael (Joyce) Sluss of Plymouth, Minnesota, Mollie Sluss of Bradenton, Florida, and Andrew (Pamela) Sluss of Royal Oak, Michigan. Ellen is also survived by five grandchildren, Rebecca Sluss of Bloomington, Minnesota, Daniel (Katie) Sluss of Seattle, Washington, David (Becca) Sluss of Edgewater, Colorado; Laura Sluss of Heath, Ohio, Matthew (Amanda) Sluss of Royal Oak, Michigan; four great grandchildren, Emma and Matthew Sluss of Seattle, Washington, and Adalyn and Isaiah Sluss of Royal Oak, Michigan; her brother, Robert (Joanne) Stoffer of Gainesville, Georgia; and seven nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Union Avenue United Methodist Church in Alliance, Ohio on June 3rd at 11:30 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ray C. and Ellen Stoffer Sluss Endowed Scholarship at Ashland University, 401 College Avenue, Ashland, Ohio, 44805, or to the Copeland Oaks Continuing Care Fund, 715 S. Johnson Road, Sebring, Ohio, 44672.

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