Obituary for Robert “Bob” Ross

Ponca City Now - February 1, 2017 5:14 pm

Robert “Bob” Ross – Veteran

December 2, 1928 – January 30, 2017

Robert (Bob) Eugene Ross, of Kaw City, died Monday, January 30, 2017 at Ponca City Nursing Home. He was 88 years old.

He began his life journey on December 2, 1928 and was the second of nine children born to John Lester and Zelma Pearl Withers Ross of Shidler, Oklahoma. Bob graduated from Shidler High School in 1946 and attended Phillips University. He honorably served his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Rowan for four years as a physician’s assistant in the US Navy Hospital Corp. Following his discharge, he returned to his hometown and began working for Kewanee Oil Company (later owned by Gulf and then Chevron) in Shidler. He retired from Chevron in 1986 but continued to ranch, one of his greatest passions, for several years before moving to Kaw City.

Bob once spoke of the two dates on a man’s tombstone – the first being his date of birth and the last his date of death. He felt the most important part of those dates was the dash between the two dates and how a man spent that dash. Bob’s dash was spent celebrating life.

He celebrated the birth of his four children: Sherman Russell Ross, Roy Guy Ross, Kirk Bryan Ross, and Shirley Bobette Ross Roades. Over the years, he celebrated their life events with them and was proud of their families and many accomplishments.

For the past 34 years, he has celebrated his marriage to his beloved wife, Juanita Bledsoe Ross, and the addition of his step-children Ginger Morrissey and Danny Hopper to the family.

Bob celebrated his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at First Christian Church in Shidler, Oklahoma where he served for many years as a deacon and sang in the church choir. Fellow worshipers became lifelong friends of Bob and Juanita.

Just last fall, Bob celebrated his 70th high school reunion in Shidler with many of his old classmates and friends.

His celebrations didn’t end at the time of his death. Today he is celebrating his eternal homecoming in the company of his parents and siblings Ruth, Betsy, Sherman, Mary Katherine, John, Donald, Winton, and Sue.

Bob is survived by his wife, Juanita of the home; his son Russ and wife Amy of Richardson, Texas; his son Roy Guy of Sherman, Texas; his son Kirk and wife Julia of Shidler, Oklahoma; his daughter Bobette and husband Barth of Houston, Texas; his step-daughter Ginger and husband Tim of Charlotte, North Carolina; his stepson Danny and wife Pam of Van Buren, Arkansas; a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a host of friends.

Services will be held February 3, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Shidler. Pastor Ron Kirk will lead the service assisted by former pastor, Doug Scott. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery in Kaw City. Services are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to First Christian Church of Shidler, Oklahoma or Humanity Hospice at 13924 Quail Pointe Drive, Suite C, Oklahoma City, OK 73134.

Online condolences may be done at www.gracememorialchapel.net