Gerald M. Ross

Jerry Ross, 80, died suddenly on January 6, 2012, of organ failure at San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital.

Born August 4, 1931, in McEwen, Tennessee, he graduated from Colton High School in 1949. He has lived in Cherry Valley for the last 15 years.

After a very difficult childhood, he was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served during the Korean War. Jerry met Joyce Cummins in March of 1955 and after dating for 3 weeks they married on April 9, 1955 and moved to Fort Bliss, Texas until 1956. He was an instructor in Guided Missile School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma from 1956 to 1957. He was honorably discharged as a Chief Warrant Officer in Nov, 1957 but remained in the Army Reserves until 1964.

Joyce and Jerry lived in Barstow from 1958 to 1962 where he worked for Barstow Furniture as a Service Manager and while there he had a side business of repairing TVs and radios (Jerry's TV Repair). When Karen got a blood disease in 1962, they moved to San Bernardino to be closer to Loma Linda University Hospital and he worked for Hurley Electronics as a Sales Rep. It was during this time that he was learning the machine shop business from a cousin and was working in the garage producing Jiffy Masts. These were his invention for mounting TV antennas on the roof. The garage machine shop developed into a real business in 1969 with employees. He mentored many young men and gave them a vocation so that they could earn a comfortable living. He was very handy and repaired many appliances and TVs for friends and family. He owned and operated Ross Machine & Mfg. (CNC Machining) in San Bernardino since 1969 and worked up until his death. Jerry loved his family, enjoyed science fiction and was an avid reader.

Jerry always knew exactly what he wanted and after marrying Joyce they remained happily married for 56 wonderful years. He is also survived by daughters Linda Supernaw and her husband Dale of Highland, Karen Turner and her husband Lonnie of Calimesa, Sue Ross and her partner Randy Cloutier of Banning; three grandchildren, Amy and Alan Supernaw and Jeff Turner; sister Lee Sanderson, brothers Floyd and Ralph Ross all three of Santa Barbara. He was preceded in death by his brother Herbert Ross.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, January 17, at 1:00 pm at Montecito Memorial Park on Washington St. in Colton. Family and friends are invited to the Hospitality Room for light refreshments immediately following services.

Arrangements under the direction of Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary.