Obituary of Robert A Ross

DAD'S HISTORY Robert A. Ross was born January 29, 1923 in Hollywood, California to James and T. Blanche Ross. Dad had two brothers, James and Lee, and a sister, Margaret "Peg" (Knowles). During the depression, dad's family moved to Wichita, Kansas where he attended Longfellow Elementary School and one year of Junior High School. After two years in Kansas, the family moved back to California where he attended San Fernando High, which housed grades 7— 12. This is where dad learned to play the trumpet. The band teacher, Mr. Tingle, gave him private lessons. During his years in the high school band, he had the opportunity to participate in two Tournament of Roses Parades in 1938 and 1939. Because he marched in the parade, he was given tickets to the Rose Bowl game. He also had the opportunity to attend the San Francisco World's Fair where he participated in two band contests. He was also the student manager of the B football team. He was the sports editor for the school newspaper. He graduated high school in January of 1941. He was one of the speakers at his graduation. After high school, he attended Pasadena Jr. College. He worked at Scribner's Drug Store to earn money to pay for college. He then worked for Lockheed Aircraft for one year to save money to attend Fort Wayne Bible Institute. While working to save money to attend Ft. Wayne, he attended night classes locally at Byola. In the fall of 1942, Dad, Jake Shierling, Earl Reeser, and Ernie Embach boarded a train from Los Angles to Chicago and then to Fort Wayne, Indiana to attend Fort Wayne Bible Institute. With the money he had saved, he was able to pay for the whole first year of college. During his second year, he had to work different jobs to be able to pay the tuition. At Fort Wayne Bible Institute, he met mom (Lavera). She was away most weekends traveling with a gospel team. Dad graduated from college in 1945 with a degree in Missions. Robert and Lavera were married on May 28, 1944 in Roseville, Michigan by her father, Rev. Jesse Amstutz. Michael, the first son, was born in Fort Wayne in 1945. After graduation from college, dad took a position pastoring a church in Sterling, Kansas. He was there for two years. This is where Steve was born on September 14, 1946. After leaving the church in Sterling Kansas, Mom and Dad moved in with her parents in Michigan for a short time before heading to Oakland, California. Dad worked a number of jobs at the Oakland Airport, at a canning factory, and also making deliveries for a juice company. While in California, Mark was born on December 3, 1948 and Ron was born on June 7, 1952. In 1957, dad joined the staff at the Headquarters of the Gideons International located in Chicago, Illinois. There the family lived in a flat in the city for four years and then moved to a house in Bensenville, a suburb of Chicago for another four years. While on staff with the Gideons, dad traveled extensively. When the headquarters of the Gideons moved to Nashville, dad did not continue on staff, but took a position at Fort Wayne Bible College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He worked there a couple of years before taking a position with the Millcraft Paper Company also in Fort Wayne, Indiana. While in Fort Wayne, Dad taught a Sunday School Class as well as served on the governing board at Avalon Missionary Church. In 1978, Mom and Dad applied to be business managers for the mission in Sierra Leone, West Africa with the Missionary Church Association. They served in the capital city of Freetown from 1978 - 1986. They were asked to return in 1988 - 89. When they returned to the states, they did currier work locally with the Port Charlotte newspaper for a number of years before completely retiring. Dad continued to keep active helping with the offering counting group at First Alliance, leading a senior's small group, attending the early morning men's prayer group, and attending the senior's Bunch for Lunch group on Thursday's. Dad lived at his residence on Banner Ave. after the death of his wife, Lavera, on September 19, 2007. He lived there until 2011 when he moved to the Presbyterian Homes. When he could not live on his own any longer, he moved into the Sandhill Gardens assisted living facility. A Celebration of Dad's life will be held at 3:00PM on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at First Alliance Church, 20444 Midway Boulevard in Port Charlotte with Pastor Jim Ammerman officiating. Please visit Dad's tribute wall at www.schelmfh.com to share memories and to send condolences to the Ross family. Arrangements by Paul Schelm Funeral Home in Lake Suzy. Phone (941) 625-3535.