Mr. Robert A Gross

The Measure of a Man

Not “How did he die?”, but “How did he live?”

Not “What did he gain?”, but “What did he give?”

These are the things that measure the worth

Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.

Not “What was his station?”, but “Had he a heart?”

And “How did he play his God-given part?”

Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer?

To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?

Not “What was his church?”, Not “What was his creed?”,

But “Had he befriended those really in need?”

Not “What did the sketch in the newspaper say?”

But “How many were sorry when he passed away?”

These are the things that measure the worth

Of a man as a man, regardless of birth.

--Anonymous

Robert Argyle Gross passed away last Friday morning. He was 89 years old. He had lived a full life and he knew it, and his death was neither unexpected nor feared.

He was born December 15, 1921, in Elkins, WV, and he grew up there. He graduated from Elkins High School, where he was a member of the basketball team and a drummer in the school band. Those interests stayed with him throughout his life.

He attended Duke University and graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1943. While at Duke he was a member of the varsity basketball team. His coach was Eddie Cameron, and he was on the team when they played the first game in what is now Cameron Indoor Stadium. He graduated in three and a half years from Duke, so that he could enlist in the Army.

During WWII he was in the infantry initially, but was transferred to the Army Air Corps, Air Transport Command soon after his enlistment. He spent most of the war in Alaska, ferrying airplanes to our Russian allies (at the time) to be used to fight the Germans.

After the war he returned to marry his sweetheart from Duke, Catherine Lunsford Dillon, on February 9, 1946. They were married 64 years until her death last year. He gave her a bouquet of fresh flowers for their anniversary last year, and she died the next day. He claimed it was because of the shock.

After having several jobs in the hardwood lumber industry in sales, in 1954 he was transferred from Indiana to High Point, NC, to sell lumber and veneer in this area. He started his own company, Gross Veneer Sales, in the late 1950’s, and worked at it nearly every day until his hospitalization last month. He had good success selling sliced veneer to the furniture companies in the region, and was a well-respected member of the industry.

He and Catty had four children, and they stressed the value of education to all of them. Bob and Catty were active in the various PTA groups at several High Point schools. Bob also served on the High Point City Council in the 1960’s.

They were also members of First Presbyterian Church of High Point since the mid-1950’s, where Bob served as a deacon, an elder, and chairman of several building committees.

Bob was an avid fan of Duke athletics, and over the years wrote several letters to Mike Krzyzewski, explaining to him what he was doing wrong in his coaching. In the past year, at age 89, he attended every Duke football and basketball home game, driving himself to Durham when necessary.

He was a dog lover, first with Irish Setters with Irish names, then with German Shepherds named Fritz. He is survived by Fritz .

He was preceded in death by his parents C.A. and Winifred T. Gross of Elkins, WV, and by his wife, Catherine D. Gross. He is survived by his four children: Catherine G. Hendren and her husband, Tom, of Winston-Salem; Robert D. Gross and his wife, Jan, of Lexington; Jill Soderberg and her husband, Leif, of Lake Forest, IL; and William T. Gross of High Point. Also surviving are his sister, Jean Gross MacLachlan of Traverse City, MI, and a first cousin, Sue Talbott Wilmoth of Lynchburg, VA. He has a niece, Ann Zaleski and her husband Pierre, and a nephew Bill MacLachlan and his wife, Patty. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Matthew and Cate Hendren, Will and Anne Gross, Alexandra, Peter and Lucy Soderberg, and Tally and Dan Gross. There is one great grandchild, Owen Dillon Lee Gross, and a dear family friend, Gracie Setzer.

There will be a visitation at River Landing at Sandy Ridge on Friday, June 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, June 18, at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in High Point. A reception will be held after the service in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to one of the following organizations: Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, PO Box 725, Kernersville, NC 27285; North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, PO Box 6066, High Point, NC 27262; of Hardwood Forestry Fund, 1825 Michael Faraday Drive, Reston, VA 20190

On-line condolences can be made at www.sechrestfunerals.com