George Frederick Ross loved life on the farm in Farmington, Illinois, where he was born in 1926 and lived throughout his young years. His mother was Martha Sutton, his father was Harold Ross and his brother was Walter Ross. He talked of his one-room schoolhouse before attending high school in Farmington, from where he graduated in 1944.
George Ross
In 1945, George went into the Army, toward the conclusion of the war. Following his discharge in 1946, George immediately enrolled at the University of Illinois, anxious to get his education. During his college years, George married Betty Trudgen, also a college student. From the marriage came four children — Deborah, David, Barbara and Leeanne.
George became a dedicated consultant for HUD and lived, among other locations, near the beauty of Lake Michigan, where he enjoyed his family, fishing and boating.
Many years later, in 1986, George married again, to Patricia Anderson. Patricia had family in the Northwest United States, and drew George to the beauty of that part of the country. They eventually came to call the Northwest home. George had grown close to the children of Patricia, Jaye and Jon, as though they were his own.
Life in a retirement community made doing artwork, watercolor, an important part of each day. Illness brought the death of Patricia in 2007.
The Kiwanis Club, with its attention to children, also drew George’s loyalty. He met and married a Kiwanis friend, Sharla Boylan, in 2009.
His marriage to Sharla brought three more daughters into his life, Rebecca, Barbara and Beth. With his artwork and eventually his struggle with ALS, the last five years were important years. Near the end he wrote, “When I die I want people to know I had a great life here on earth.”
George cherished members of his family who survive him: wife Sharla Boylan (Issaquah), children Deborah Cox (Naperville, Illinois), David Ross (Gilbert, Arizona), Barbara Baptist (Benton Harbor, Michigan), Leanne Nagle (Coldwater, Michigan), Jaye Peal (Fall City), Jon Anderson (Park City, Utah), Rebecca Boylan (Sammamish), Barbara Boylan (San Rafael, California), Beth Boylan (Bellevue), brother Walter Ross (Traverse City, Michigan), 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Remembrances may be made to the ALS Association, Evergreen Chapter, 19115 68th Ave. S., H105, Kent, WA 98032.