Robert Warren Ross

Gunnery Sergeant Bob Ross, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired, passed over quietly, January 6th, 2018, during his 93rd year with his son Wayne by his side. After 21 years in the Marine Corps and 52 years as a successful, small business entrepreneur, Bob always said that his loving 60-year marriage and business partnership with the love of his life Micky, was his proudest accomplishment. During those years of thick and thin, good times and lean, together they raised two sons: Charles and Wayne, and went on to travel the world together. Bob was a sterling husband, father, friend, brother, neighbor and an active deacon in two southern Baptist churches in Oklahoma City: Central Hillcrest and Southern Hills Baptist.

After playing second base for the pro baseball Indianapolis Indians, Bob enlisted in the Marines in 1941 and saw combat in the Pacific theater including landings on Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and Green Island. He landed with the First Marine Division in September 1950 in Inchon, Korea, and later served tours of duty in Yokohama, Japan and Okinawa. He rose in rank quickly and became a Master Sergeant at the age of 25: the youngest in the First Marine Division at the time. Later he attended the Marine Corps NCO Leadership Institute where he distinguished himself professionally and academically, by scoring in the top 10 percent of his graduating class of fifty.

Having retired in 1964, Bob went to work for Republic Steel in Chicago where he learned to specialize in architectural hardware. Shortly thereafter, he and Micky moved to Oklahoma City and started Bob Ross Building Specialties. Over the years, that business grew to provide steel doors, frames, and hardware for many businesses nationwide including Wendy’s, Sonic Drive-Ins, and Pizza Huts. His business creed was: Do things right, the first time, every time!

Bob is survived by his son Dr. Wayne Ross, Ed.D. in Tucson, Arizona, and sister Ms. Sharron Ross of St. Louis, Missouri, as well as, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. We loved you Bob and you loved us greatly. Semper Fi, Gunny! Until we meet again.

Arrangements under the direction of Advantage Funeral & Cremation Services -South Chapel, Oklahoma City, OK.