Olney Perry Ross Jr., 89

CAMBRIDGE - Olney Perry Ross, Jr., 89, of Cambridge, passed away at the Chesapeake Woods Center in Cambridge on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009. He was born at Hurlock on October 30, 1919, and was a son of the late Olney Perry and Hester Travers Ross Sr. Mr. Ross attended schools in Hurlock and graduated from Hurlock High School in 1936. On June 3, 1941, he was married to the former Katherine Mills. Mrs. Ross passed away on Nov. 28, 2008. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabees in July of 1942 and served in the Aleutians as a Yeoman First Class. He was a member of the American Forces with Task Force Unit 16.2.1 that reoccupied Attu Island in May of 1943. Mr. Ross received an Honorable Discharge on Oct. 26, 1945, and was a member of Dorchester Post 91 American Legion. Mr. Ross was well known for his vegetable garden and he and his wife enjoyed traveling together. He had been an active member of the Cambridge Wesleyan Church for many years and had served as Vice Chairman of the Board, Sunday School Superintendent from 1956 until 1972, had served as Church Secretary as well as Building Fund Treasurer, Sunday School teacher and Men's Bible Class from 1973 until 2005 and also Choir Director. He had also served on various committees and was Area Youth Leader, had served as a Delegate to District and General Conferences and had also served on the Board of Directors of the Denton Nursing Home from 1981 until 1991. Mr. Ross had worked at the Cambridge Wire Cloth Co. for 45 years starting off working in the plant, and retired in 1984 as Manager of Conveyor Belt Sales and Quality Control. Mr. Ross had been a resident at the Chesapeake Woods Center in Cambridge since March of 2008 where he passed away on Wednesday afternoon. Survivors include one daughter, Kathy Elzey and her husband Keith Elzey of Cambridge; one son, Fred Ross and his wife Anne Ross of Parsonsburg; four grandchildren, Bryan Hall, Brandon Hall, Heather Towers and Zebulan Ross; one great-granddaughter, Destiny Ross; one great-grandson, Dominic Guy-Hall. He is also survived by a sister, Patty Rhue of Hurlock and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a daughter Carol Ann Ross; a son, Ronald Wayne Ross; two sisters, Florence Pritchett and Carrie B. Wheatley; and a brother, Charles Ross. A funeral service will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Cambridge Wesleyan Church with the Rev. Joseph Harmon officiating and a tribute from Rev. Paul Dieter. Interment will follow at Dorchester Memorial Park. The family will receive friends during the hour preceding the service. Pallbearers will be Bryan Hall, Brandon Hall, Zebulan Ross, Mike Rossy, Ricky Rossy, Michael Rhue, Jerry Rhue, Jeff Pritchett and James Hoffman. Honorary bearers will be Leonard Meyer, Ollie Wheatley, Reese Hurley, Clifton Pritchett, Hubert Brohawn Sr., Rodman Wolf and Downes Wheatley. Memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund of the Cambridge Wesleyan Church, c/o Mrs. Paulette Meekins, 1108 Race Street, Cambridge, MD 21613. Arrangements are being handled by the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.