Obituary of Lionel E. Ross

Warrensburg: Lionel E. Ross, 91, of Hackensack Ave., passed away Wednesday, February 14, 2007 at his home of complications of heart disease. Born April 30, 1915 in Warrensburg, he was the son of the late Herbert E. Ross Sr. and Nina (McCane) Ross. Lionel was a 1933 graduate of Warrensburg High School. He worked at the CCC Camp in Bolton from 1934-1936. He graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1940. During those summers, he acted as lifeguard at the Echo Lake Beach in Warrensburg. He enlisted in the US Army Reserves in 1940 and was called to active duty in June of 1942 as 2nd Lieutenant, 8th Army Air Force, Military Police. He served overseas in England, France and Germany before his honorable discharge as Captain, 8th Army Air Force in 1948. Post war, Lionel attended the University of Florida at Gainesville, receiving a Masters Degree in 1951. Lionel was a well known avid golfer, He worked at golf courses in Florida as well as Green Mansions and Cronin’s Golf Resort in Warrensburg from 1951-1955. He continued to enjoy a round of golf until the age of 89 at the Thousand Acres Golf Course, where he was a member. In 1956, he went to work for New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, working in pest control. He moved to DEC Land surveying in 1958 and worked as a surveyor there until his retirement in 1982. On September 20, 1958, he married Martha (Rhodes) Ross of Warrensburg. Rev. Don Aubrey, Pastor of the Warrensburg First Baptist Church presided. The couple vacationed in Sarasota, Florida each winter for 30 years as well as traveling to Hawaii and England to visit wartime friends. He is predeceased by his sister, Werna A. Ross, and his brother, Herbert E. Ross Jr. Besides his wife of 48 years, he is survived by his brother, Ryburn E. Ross and his wife, Theresa of Manlius; sister in law, Marie R. Ross of Warrensburg; his nephew, Kim D. Ross and his wife, Julie and their children, Rolf, Ross and Caroline of Palm Harbor, FL; his niece, Tamara (Ross) Jones and her husband, William and their children, Matthew and his wife, Sarah (Kandora) Jones of New York, Logan and his fiancée, Jacquie French, Whitney and Cameron of Lake George; his nephew, Shane L. Ross and his wife, Cindy, and their children, Michelle and Leah of Queensbury, and his niece, Darcy (Ross) Karle and her husband, William and their son, Alec of Marstons Mills, MA, all of whom he loved and enjoyed as if they were his own children. In keeping with Lionel’s request, graveside services with full military honors will be private and at the convenience of the family in the Warrensburg Cemetery this spring. There are no calling hours scheduled. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Warrensburg EMS, PO Box 157, Warrensburg, NY 12885 or to the American Heart Association. Please visit www.alexanderfuneralhomes.com for online guest book and condolences.