John J. Ross

John Jacob Ross, 84, passed away on November 29, 2014. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, December 4, 2014 at 12 noon in the chapel of Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home with Rev. David Hunter officiating. The family will greet friends from 11:00 am until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be in Macon Memorial Park Cemetery. For those who wish, the family suggests that donations be made to Heartland Hospice, 3312 Northside Dr. D250, Macon, GA 31210, or Tabernacle Baptist Church, 6611 Zebulon Rd., Macon, GA 31220.

John was born on a farm near Hazlettville, Delaware to the late Victor Theodore and Minnie Bryant Ross. He was preceded in death by his brother, Victor A. Ross and sisters, Jean Sandish and Sharon Ross. John graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, Delaware in 1948. He proudly served his country stateside and overseas as a Corporal in the United States Air Force from 1948 to 1952 and was a member of the Air Force Band.

John worked for 30 years for Procter & Gamble in Macon, and when the plant was sold to Archer Daniels Midland, he became ADM’s Macon plant manager. He retired from the position in 1997. He was an active member and Deacon of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Macon, where he taught both youth and adult Sunday School Class, and served on many committees. He coached youth baseball and church-league basketball and softball for many years. He was an Atlanta Braves fan and enjoyed bowling.

Though he once told his son he had joined the military after high school because “I didn’t want to be a farmer,” he had a green thumb and loved the feel of dirt between his fingers. After retiring, he became a state-certified Master Gardener and spent Springs and Summers growing vegetables and flowers.

His memory will be forever treasured by his loving wife of 63 years Betty Hardison Ross of Macon; son, David Ross, of Lilburn; daughter, Donna Parrett (David), of Macon; granddaughter, Taylor Walker, of Sugar Hill; grandson, Dylan Ross, of Jasper; sisters, Dorothy Myers and Kathy Stutzman, of Pennsylvania, Joyce Conner (Ron), of North Carolina, Rose Ann Landers (Bobby), of Texas, Nancy Ross and Sandy Stump, of Delaware; brother, Charles Ross (Jen), of Nova Scotia, Canada; brother-in-law, Ron Sandish, of Ohio; and sister-in-law, Margie Ross, of Delaware. The family would also like to thank Heartland Hospice for their care and compassion.

Visit www.maconmp.com to express condolences.

Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery have charge of the arrangements.