Stanley Ellias

Former store president was a

‘ longtime Downriver supporter

A funeral service was held yester-
day afternoon for Stanley Ellias, a
Past president of Mulias and Ellias
department store and a longtime
supporter of downtown Trenton.

Mr. Ellias died Monday, Noy. 19,
1995. He was 73.

His wife, Catherine Ellias, said
her husband had been an active
member of the Trenton community
since he began running the store on
West Jefferson Avenue in the mid
1950s.

Mr. Ellias was born May 5, 1922, to
Meyer Ellias of Trenton and the for-
mer Florence Bittker of Wyandotte.

“Stanley served in World War II as
a German voice interceptor,” his
wife said. “He already had a bache-
lor’s degree from the University of
Michigan, so following the war, he
went back to U of M to get his law
degree.”

AFTER SEVERAL years working
as a contract attorney for the Army,
Mr.Elliasreturned to Trenton torun
the family store when his father
died.

“He feltit very incumbent on him
to come back and maintain the fam-
ily business,” Catherine Ellias said,
adding that he expanded the store
enormously. “He was partners with
his aunt, Sadie Mulias, who worked
until she was in her 90s.”

In 1987, the landmark business
that began as a general store for
what was largely a farming commu-
nity was destroyed by fire. Though
arson was suspected, charges
against a 20-year-old suspect were
never proved.

IN ADDITION to the store, Mr.
Ellias was instrumental in building
Beth Isaac Synagogue, the first Jew-
ish house of worship constructed
Downriver. Named after Mr. Ellias’
grandfather, the synagogue was
built in 1964 for the Jewish commu-

nity, which had organized as the
Downriver Jewish Community Cen-
ter more than a decade earlier.

Mr, Ellias served on the board of
directors for Peoples Bank and
‘Trust and later Old Kent Bank until
he was 71. He also was a member of
the Michigan Bar Association, adel-
egate to the Jewish Federation
Board and belonged to numerous

*-commhunity group:

In addition to his wife, Catherine,
‘Mr. Ellias is survived by two daugh-
ters, Flora Ellias Subar of Plano,
Texas, and Gayle Ellias Margolis of
Farmington Hills; two sisters, Mar-
garet Charnes and Naomi Ellias
Dallen; a brother, Howard Ellias;
and four grandchildren.

Aservice was held atIra Kaufman.
" Chapel i in Southfield. Interment
was at Machpelah Cemetery, also in
Southfield.