Ellen was born in Pottsville, PA on February 24, 1954. She lived in Minersville, PA where under the strong guidance and hand of her grandmother, Clara B. Vidal, she began attending St. Barbara's Catholic Church. Ellen would tag along behind her grandfather, Salvadore Vidal to the local pubs with her dog Fluffy in tow. Her favorite thing to do as a child was to shadow her Aunt Bonnie, Clara B. Mason. She would force her Auntie Bon to take her with her on dates or anywhere else she would go. She always wanted to be like her auntie so much that she would even stuff her bra just to imitate Auntie Bon. Her family moved from Minersville to Alexandria then to Petersburg, VA. Ellen left school after the tenth grade but in 1987 went back and got her GED. Her life's ambition was to become a nurse. She started working as a certified nursing assistant in several local nursing homes. In 1990 Ellen started her career path by attending the St. Mary's School of Nursing at Hermitage High School in Richmond, VA. After many long tiresome days and nights, she graduated and finally became a nurse. In 1991 she was licensed by the State of Virginia as a LPNB. She was then able to pursue her lifetime dream job of being a long term care nurse. She was always saying " I just love my old people". Ellen worked at Westport, Libbie, Ashland, University Park and Crump Manor Nursing Homes, before becoming disabled by a major stroke in 2004. Ellen's first marriage to Arthur H. "Bill" Shaver, produced 3 beautiful children. Daughters Rhonda Gay and Kari Ann, son Kenneth Wayne. She was living in Charlottesville at that time until she was divorced. She moved to the Richmond/ Goochland area where she met David L. Ralls and was married at a later date. During this time she met Wayne and became friends. Wayne and David were members of the Freebird/ Free Spirit Vanners, a local Van Club. Ellen got a divorce and after a short time she started dating and fell in love with Wayne Winston. Ellen and Wayne were married on May 23, 1998. They lived a long and loving life together in the Richmond area. Ellen went to be with The Lord on November 26, 2014, and left behind to grieve her devoted husband of 16 years, Wayne Winston, daughters Rhonda P. Durrbeck and Kari A. Combs, son Kenneth W. Shaver, 6 grandchildren Deven E., Daphne N., and Drue M. Shaver, Joshua C. M. and Liam A. Durrbeck and George Combs. Also left behind were 5 brothers Howard, Marvin, Michael, and the late Kenny Saunders, and Vincent Albert Vidal, Jr. 3 sisters Carolyn Beddingfield, Patti Rector, and Bonnie Merrill; devoted sister-in-law Josephine Lewis and brother-in-law Alvin Winston. Ellen met Howard, Marvin, Michael and Carolyn for the first time in 2006. She never knew of them until then. She was preceded in death by her father Vincent A. Vidal, Sr. and Laura L. Warren. Ellen was always ready to render advice or give you a smile as she was drinking her sodas or smoking her cigarettes. She was deeply loved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed. - We all will Love you for Always and Forever.
