Wilfred Thomas Ross

Wilfred Thomas Ross, 79, of Wilmington, NC, died peacefully Wednesday December 10, 2014 at Davis Health Care Center, after a long battle with severe heart disease and all the associated complications. Will was preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Olga Ross of Mountain View, CA, and his loving wife Kay Fortune Ross. Surviving are daughters Kerry Ross Bloodworth, Tanya Ross, Tanya's partner Lisa Feyen, and grandson William L. Bloodworth, Jr., all of Wilmington, NC. Also surviving are Will's sister Florence Ross Mills (husband Jim Mills), nephews Jim Mills Jr., Tim Mills, and niece Kathy Mills Shaw, and their spouses, children, and grandchildren, all of California. It is only appropriate to also mention Kay's wonderful loving family in the Seattle, Washington area - Brother Ken Fortune, wife Paulette, their 3 daughters Jennifer, Shauna and Kelly, and their husbands and children. Will was born in San Francisco, California on April 23, 1935. His parents immigrated to America and Canada from Europe - his father from Italy, and his mother from Russia (although of German descent). His father worked as a boiler maker with the Southern Pacific Railroad, and his mother was a traditional homemaker. Will graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Metallurgical Engineering. He was hired by General Electric to work at the Hanford Atomic Products Operation in Richland, Washington, where he met and married the love of his life - Kay Fortune Ross. They had 2 daughters, and Will's career thrived. In 1962 G.E. transferred them to Nuclear Corporate Headquarters in San Jose, CA, and then to Wilmington, NC in 1971, where the new operations plant had been built. He came here with the engineering group, but was promoted to building manager of Fuel Components Operations, and he retired from this position in 1990. During his 33 year career with General Electric, Will was awarded for his numerous accomplishments, which include a patent for designing an improved nuclear fuel component. Throughout Will's career, he had the opportunity to travel and work in many countries, which include Japan, Taiwan, Germany, France and Italy. He enjoyed his travels, and always brought fabulous souvenirs home to his family. Will and Kay joined the Lutheran Church of Reconciliation in 1991, where he served on the landscape committee, and as chair of the finance committee. Will and Kay were active in the church and the community. Will enjoyed playing tennis and golf, fishing and boating with his family, and taking long walks with his many beloved dogs. Will was a kind and gentle loving soul, a loving father, and a friend to all he met. He had a gift for striking up a conversation with a total stranger and somehow bringing a smile to their face! He will forever be missed by us all. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday December 17, 2014 at the Lutheran Church of Reconciliation, 7500 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28411, by Pastor Bill Milholland. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Martin J. Conley, Jr. for being such a wonderful cardiologist, and to his loving and caring office staff. Special thanks also to the staff at Champions Assisted Living and the Davis Health Care Center for the loving compassion and excellent care given to our father during the final years of his life. Contributions can be made to the Lutheran Church of Reconciliation, Wilmington, NC, in our father's memory.