Ross Martyn Zarfas

Major Ross Zarfas, 93, was Promoted to Glory on Saturday, the 17th of May, 2025. He was resting peacefully when he quietly slipped into the arms of his blessed savior, Jesus. No longer bound by a frail physical body, he is reborn, standing strong, arm-in-arm with his beloved Marguerite.

Ross Zarfas was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, on July 31, 1931, to Fred and Blanche Zarfas. His family moved to the United States when he was a teen, and he graduated from High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps but was honorably discharged due to a medical issue.

Ross entered The Salvation Army’s Officer Training College in Chicago on September 16, 1953, a member of the Shepherds Session. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant and served in corps appointments in the Chicago area, where he met Lieutenant Marguerite Mathis. They were married June 29, 1956.

For 42 years, they served together in six corps appointments in Metropolitan Chicago and Lincoln, Nebraska. They served as City Coordinators in three cities and on Divisional Headquarters staff in two divisions. His heart for evangelism led them to be appointed Territorial Evangelists for the Central Territorial.

In 1993, they entered their last appointment, serving at DHQ in Kansas City, Missouri, Ross as Evangelism and Corps Growth Secretary, and Marguerite as Christian Education Director. During that appointment, they were challenged to plant a new corps in the Kansas City Northland area. The Kansas City Northland Corps was opened under their leadership and is to this day still serving effectively in the community.

Ross is well-known for his exuberance toward life, his boisterous charm, his love for people, and for sharing the love of Jesus with all he met. Those who spent much time with him were familiar with his strong voice singing joyfully, “One day at a time, sweet Jesus.” In or out of football season, he would make the spirited cry, “Go, Big Red!” in honor of HIS football team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers. To his grandchildren, Ross will be remembered for his spur-of-the-moment asking, “Hey, you know what?” “What?” they would reply, and he always answered, “I’m getting’ better lookin’ every day.”

Now, Ross is indeed “better looking,” in his new body, freed from the burdens of this earth, and living with Jesus, his lifelong friend and savior, whom he wanted everyone to know and love as much as he did.

Ross leaves a rich legacy of family and friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margeurite. He is survived by his children, Carolee (Mark) Israel of Atlanta, GA, Sandy (Curtiss) Hartley of Muncie, IN, Paul Zarfas of St. Petersburg, FL, and Barbara (Steve) Madsen of Fort Worth, TX, along with 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.