Ross Eldon Westphal

Born November 19, 1921

Died January 30, 2025 Peacefully

His life span was over 10 decades, he lived life abundantly. Ross was creative, talented, and innovative. He used ingenuity to conquer whatever his interests were throughout his lifetime.

As a child his mother saw that he had above average intelligence. She started him in school at the age of 4. As he was learning to write, he used his left hand. In those days they thought it was better for children to write only with the right hand; so,they changed his handwriting from left hand to right hand. He started piano lessons early on and excelled. He was also given butcher paper to draw on. He would draw large cartoons of animals, realistically. He excelled at drawing too.

He had an aptitude for understanding how machines work. By getting a repair manual on various cars, bicycles and small appliances he was able to make repairs. He also did electrical projects and bathroom and kitchen plumbing issues. All by studying up on it. He was a handyman !!! He would modify many things including clothes to fit his purposes. He did leather work and metal sculpture. He also carved wood projects. He did many many things throughout his lifetime.

He played the Baritone Horn and the Trombone in middle school. He was in the band. He researched and built a kayak. He floated and paddled it down a ditch to the next town where his mother picked him up and then drove home. His dad worked on the railroad and as a result, his family had free passes to travel on the train. Before graduating from High School in 1939 he took 2 trips to CA on the train. One trip by himself and the other with a school friend who had relatives out in California. To say the least he had an adventurous, pioneering spirit. He made those trips in his early teens. After graduating from High School his dad took him to get a job. They went on his dad's recommendation, no application process. While working on the railroad one day, he came home and in the mail there was a postcard; Uncle Sam wanted him to go to war.

He enlisted in the Army / Aircore. He was in the Army now, WW2, June 12, 1942. He was 21 years old, sailed over to England and served in the army 3.5 years. He was honorably discharged September 24, 1945.

One year later on October 31,1946 he met Evelyn... They were married 5 months later on March 16, 1947. While Eve, as he called her, was pregnant; they moved to Boston Mass. so Ross could go to music school on the GI Bill. While in Boston for close to 2 years Ross junior was born January 11, 1948. They moved back to Lincoln, Nebraska and went to Union College to finish up using the GI Bill for school. Ross and Eve's second child was born July 11, 1951 in Lincoln Nebraska a little sister. Ross worked as a CW Porter (Selling Christian Books) for 3 years. He bounced around for a few years, doing odd jobs. He taught school in Bayard Nebraska. This teaching job sparked the notion to go to Caly (California). Cheap tuition just had to buy books to college and get a teaching degree. This idea became the goal of our family. We all worked on painting a big house, to make money to move to California. It happened in 1956 , we packed up and moved to California. We all did our part so dad could go to college for 4 years in L.A. and become a teacher. He finally figured out what he wanted to do . Ross graduated in 1960 from San Fernando Valley State College. He got his first job in Dinuba CA, that lasted for 3 years.

The outdoors was grabbing Ross; while in LA but what really grabbed him were our National Parks in the central Valley of California. Sequoia and Kings Canyon Park, as well as Yosemite and Death Valley. All we did was camp, hike, ski, ice skate and back pack. We moved up to Sacramento CA in 1965. Ross was a teacher for 25 years. We kept exploring the Sierra Nevada mountains by hiking, backpacking, camping, jeeping, and motorcycle off road riding. He retired early and bought a little camper and traveled around California and a few other states.

Ross walked every day for 30 years very steadily, and was a vegetarian since 1951. Ross kept himself very active. When he was 88, he remarked, " I can do everything I always did the only difference is I get tired, I rest !!! Then, I get up and get back at it." There is only one Ross Westphal he was a powerhouse, an amazing, inspiring, courageous man. He was the epitome of what I call cool throughout his life. He tackled problems with a vengeance. He believed in God who created the heavens and earth, and Jesus, God's Son. The last 5 years or so he said the Lord's prayer every night before bed. Matthew 6: 9-13. He knew it by heart! When Eve was alive she supported him in all his adventures throughout their life together. She was a prayer Warrior ! His advice to me is - "Never Give Up." I have known him for 73 years.

He is preceded in death by his wife Evelyn and son, Ross Jr. He is survived by me his daughter Rebecca, his 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.