Robert L. Ely

Robert L. Ely, 77, of Logan, died Saturday, May 26, 2012 at Pickaway Manor in Circleville. He was born September 9, 1934 in Lancaster, Ohio the son of the late Paul R. and Julia Marguerite (Davis) Ely. He was a graduate of Lancaster High School and attended the Ohio State University where he majored in chemistry. Robert was a veteran of the United States Army and retired on January 2, 1987 as a Lieutenant of the Ohio State Highway Patrol following 31 years of service. He had been in charge of the Crime Lab. He began his career in 1956 as a member of the 46th Academy Class. He served as a trooper at the Mansfield, Columbus and Circleville posts from 1956 to 1966 when he was promoted to the rank of corporal and reassigned to the Cambridge district as an investigator. In 1968 he was promoted to sergeant and transferred to the Crime Laboratory at General Headquarters in Columbus. He remained there as a supervisor of the lab with the rank of lieutenant until his retirement. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lois (Ward) Ely, whom he married July 22, 1956; four children, David (Tammy) Ely, Elisabeth (John) Davis, Joann (Dennis) Redman and Paula (Thomas) Bortolotto; and 8 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Ely. A Rosary will be held Tuesday at 7 PM in the Morgan Funeral Home, 124 Fort Street, Bremen. Funeral Mass will take place Wednesday at 10 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 602 Marietta Street, Bremen with Father Thomas Kessler officiating. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Bremen.