Francis "Frank" Ross

Frank was born on September 16, 1929 in Brunswick Co., NC, son of the late Jewell Evans Ross and Charlie Samuel Ross. Including his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Ethel Powell Ross; sisters, Emily R. Smith and Muriel R. Inman; twin brothers, Caldwell and Perry Ross.

Frank served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1954. He was a devoted and loyal family man. His honesty and integrity was well known throughout the Wrightsboro community. He was a man of few words, but each word he spoke carried meaning. His common sense and wisdom was a blessing not only to his family but to everyone who knew him.

He worked 34 years for Carolina Power and Light Company, retiring in 1988 from Wilmington Sutton Plant as Services Foreman. He was a dedicated worker and meticulous in all that he did.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially in the fall for trout. He was an avid gardener and nature lover. He traveled extensively with his wife and family after his retirement. In recent years, he and his wife bought a home in the mountains of NC and spent many days enjoying the beautiful scenery in addition to the wildlife there.

Frank was a kind, gentle and humble soul and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Frank is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Ross; his three children; Deborah Ross Musselwhite (Neill) and Denise Ross Long (Donnie) all of Wilmington, NC, Steven C. Ross (Stephanie) of Atlantic Beach, NC; seven grandchildren, Brandon and Taylor Caulder, Seth and Summer Long, Morgan, Sam and Adam Ross; four step- children, Gordon Knight (Kim) of Atlanta, GA, Victor Knight of Knoxville, TN, Deneen Haney (Jeff) of Dayton, OH and Michelle Knight( Rebecca) of Asheville, NC; eleven step grandchildren and two step great grandchildren. He is also survived by three very special people in his life, a nephew, Philip Inman, a niece, Anita Jacobs and a sister-in-law, Betty Cox.

Visitation will be held from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Sunday, September, 30, 2012 at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home, 3915 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Monday October 1, 2012 at Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Lewis and Rev. Jim Newkirk officiating.

Graveside Service will follow at the Ross Family Cemetery in Ash, NC.

Pallbearers will be Seth Long, Brandon Caulder, Taylor Caulder, Roger Rivenbark, Ross Inman and Sam Ross.

The Ross family would like to take this opportunity to thank some very special people who have shown so much love and support to us during this difficult time in our lives. A very special thanks to the staff of New Hanover Medical Group, Dr. Neill Musselwhite, Dr. Hormoze Goudardzi, Dr. Stephen Tatter and Dr. Dean Karras, as well as Wrightsboro Baptist Church, the Growth Sunday School Class, Lower Cape Fear Hospice and their staff. Thanks for a very special retired hospice nurse, Evalena Leonard, who provided love, compassion and support not only to Frank, but to his entire family during our darkest hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, Wrightsboro Baptist Church Building Fund, 2736 Castle Hayne Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28401 or the Parkinson’ s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.

The staff of Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Francis (Frank) Gilmore Ross.