Ralph Minor Ross

Ross, Dr. Ralph M., age 100 of Knoxville, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Thursday, July 15, 2010. Dr. Ross was born , May 3, 1910 on a farm in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania to the late Eva Irene and Walter Samuel Ross. He was a member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church and a former member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church and the James Park Bible Class. Dr. Ross was also a 50 year member of the Northside Kiwanis Club and a 50 year member of the Shriner’s. Ralph was a member of Yoke Ministries, Campus Crusade for Christ, Children’s Bible Missions, Angelic Ministries, Gideon’s and a host of other ministries. Dr. Ross graduated from Northwestern University School of Denistry in 1935 with an undergraduate degree with West Virginia University. He followed with an internship in oral surgery at Cincinnati General Hospital, where he began his dental practice in Vermilion, Ohio. He entered the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a reserve officer during his dental school period and was called into active duty when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Dr. Ross met his soon to be bride, Frances who worked as a nurse at Camp Blanding in Jacksonville, FL during the war. They would be married for 61 years until her death in 2002. Following the military, Ralph began Ross Construction Co. and closed this chapter of his life many years later and started his new company Dean Coal Company. Peggy Keys was his secretary for 33 years and has continued to be a lifelong friend. After the Billy Graham Crusade in Knoxville during 1970, Ralph formed a Bible study group that met nearly every Wednesday morning at his Holston Hills home. Dr. Ross is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Linda Faye Ross of Caryville, TN; daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Jesse Helms of Greeneville, SC; grandchildren, Blake Ross, Megan Ross, David Helms and Jonathan Helms; brother, Paul Ross of Jellico, TN. A very special thank you to Kathy Marlow, Carolyn Kelley and Gwyn Earl for their loving care of our father. A celebration of life will be held 2:00 pm Sunday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel with Reverend Shawn White and Pastor John Stone officiating. Interment to follow at Highland Memorial Cemetery with full military honors presented by the Volunteer State Veterans’ Honor Guard. Online condolences may be sent to www.rosemortuary.com. Memorials may be made to Angelic Ministries, P.O. Box # 3034, Knoxville, TN 37927 or to YOKE Youth Ministries, P.O. Box # 3492, Knoxville, TN 37927. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 pm Saturday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.

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Ralph Minor Ross

May 3, 1910 - July 15, 2010