Richard William Ennis, 81, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville, N.C., after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born on September 5, 1938, in Brockport, N.Y., to the late William and Ethel Hanna Ennis. Mr. Ennis was a U.S. Army veteran and proud to have been a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division. He lived in Holley, N.Y., and worked for Owens Illinois in Brockport, N.Y., until 1985 when the plant closed. He was then transferred to the O-I plant in Winston-Salem, N.C., where he retired in 1993. They moved to Mooresville in 1999. Dick belonged to American Legion Post 529 of Holley, N.Y. He enjoyed doing yard and garden work, weeding and watering all of Eloise’s numerous flowers. Dick loved watching the NY Yankees baseball and college basketball.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, William “Billy” Ennis.

Dick is survived by his wife of 59 years, Eloise Schiavone Ennis; daughter, Susan Ennis Henderson and husband Ralph; brother, Donald Ennis and wife Carol; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Monday, November 18, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home. Funeral service with full military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, at Cavin-Cook Funeral Home Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516 www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mr. Ennis. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.