Ellen (McKinstry) Hill Surber, 94, of Gadsden, Alabama, died on March 8, 2015. She was born on December 26, 1920, in Warren, Tennessee, to the Rev. John Logan and Margaret (Rothrock) McKinstry. She was awarded a B.A. in English and Business Education from Blue Mountain College, an M.A. from the University of Mississippi and an Ed.S from the University of Alabama in Business Education. Ellen married Charles Delmer Hill, and they resided in Blue Mountain, Mississippi, until his death. She later married Edward Wesley Surber and relocated to Gadsden, Alabama in 1956. Ellen taught English and Latin at several public schools and was Business Division Department Head at Tishomingo Junior College in northern Mississippi. After moving to Gadsden, she taught at Emma Samson High School and Litchfield Middle School. She was one of the first employees at Gadsden State Community College, where she taught Business Education for 31 years, retiring in 1994. Ellen was passionate about making a difference in the lives of her students. She was a teacher of the Beulah Whorton Sunday School class and active member of First Presbyterian Church, Gadsden, and an active member of Rainbow Presbyterian Church, Rainbow City. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Confederacy, the Redbud Garden Club and the RODEO Girls. Ellen loved to travel, and she journeyed throughout the world, visiting over 25 countries on four continents. She also published various short stories and articles, as well as two books. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husbands. She is survived by one son, two daughters, eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and sister. Funeral: March 14, 2015 at noon at Rainbow Presbyterian Church, Rainbow City, Alabama. Rainbow Presbyterian Church has chosen to honor Ellen by naming the new children's play area for her.

Full obituary published in The Gadsden Times on March 12, 2015