Dorman Willis Ross

A beloved husband, father and grandfather, Dorman Ross, of Hamilton, passed away on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. He was a man of many talents and interests, who will always be remembered for his love of family, his modest and unassuming nature, and his generosity and commitment to those he cared about and was responsible for. Dorman was born March 20, 1933 in Stearns, Kentucky, the eldest son of Lonzo and Nola (Lay) Ross. After graduating from high school in Stearns, he joined the US Navy and served from 1952 to 1956. He then undertook further training in electronics, and was employed by the City of Hamilton as a Communications Technician for 27 years. At the same time, he was a partner in Norton Communications, which serviced and repaired communications equipment, and built it into a successful business. His multiple talents carried over into personal hobbies and interests - he obtained a pilot's license and flew his own plane, built a power boat, restored antique cars, maintained a collection of motorcycles, and became an expert waterskier, particularly at Lake Cumberland, Kentucky. After his retirement, he took up a whole new collection of interests, including dancing, clogging, and RVing, and enjoying 15 years of wintering in San Benito, Texas. He was always active, curious, and engaged.

With all these activities, his most important activity was his devotion to his family. He married Lois Imhoff on January 5, 1959, and their marriage stands as a monument to love, friendship, faith, and generosity of spirit. They had two children - daughter Cynthia (David) Cravit, of Toronto, and son Dale, of Hamilton - and three grandchildren, Rachel, Nathaniel and Nicholas Cravit, of Toronto. He traveled to be with them - to places as far afield as Toronto, Chicago, and Northern Michigan - and he and Lois made their home a true "second home" to all of them. They have all benefited from his love, generosity and wisdom, and his memory will truly be a blessing to them.

In addition to his immediate family, he is survived by his sister, Mary Jo Ross of Milan, Indiana; brother, Roy, of Jacksonville, Florida, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister, and sister Alma Patton.