Mr. Ross Grant Hamilton

Ross Grant Hamilton was born to Rosco Anderson and Lula Mary Jane (Baker) Hamilton on the 10 December 1928 in Branson, Colorado. Ross passed away at the Hope West Care Facility after a very brief illness on 25 Feb 2021 in Grand Junction, Colorado, at the age of 92.

Ross’s parents moved the family from Branson to Telluride, Colorado about 1937, where Ross spent the rest of his childhood, which was brief, because after his eighth-grade graduation, he went to work in the mines in the Telluride area to help support his siblings. He worked in gold, silver and coal mines in the area.

In 1951 Ross answered the call to serve his country in the Korean War from 25 Feb 1951 to 25 Feb 1953. He served as a truck driver for a Major of the 31st Infantry Division, they were known as the “Dixie Darlings”. Ross received the ‘Korean Service Medal with one bronze star’ and the “United Nations” Service Medal, receiving an Honorable discharge as a Private 1st Class.

1954, Ross was introduced by his younger sister, Frances, to a skinny red-haired, fiery spirited young woman. Agnes Anna Wood became his wife on 28 Oct 1954 in Nucla, Colorado by Justice of the Peace, W. C. Huntley. They left immediately after the ceremony on a honeymoon/ hunting trip. Ross and Agnes had 68 years together until she proceeded him in death on 28 Jun 2020. To this union were born four children, Jacqueline Carla, Connie Jean, Ross Douglas, and Kenneth Scott. Connie proceeded both parents in death on the 14 Aug 1997 in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Ross worked for the Colorado Department of Highways form 1964 to his retirement in 1988. He started as an entry level Maintenance person and ending his career as ‘Assistant Superintendent in the Aurora Maintenance Section’. He oversaw the maintenance of many major roadways in Colorado including the I-70 corridor from the Kansas Stateline to the top of Vail pass. In his career he served in numerous interesting jobs including being the only person licensed at the time to use explosives, using his skills to remove large boulders from the roadways and mitigate avalanches.

Ross enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping, he loved anything to do with the outdoors and missed it when he got older and it got too difficult to get around. Gardening was one of his lifelong passions’, he had a special ability to grow amazing gardens. It gave him great pleasure to share his vegetables with others. I think he will be remembered by the people who lived around him for his wood chopping. At the age of 92 he was still chopping wood, which he did up until the week before he left us. He would remark that it kept him in shape.

Ross was a stubborn and ornery person with a heart of gold. He would do anything to help someone in need, fixing cars, giving money, or whatever was needed, but hated for anyone to make a fuss over his kindness. He loved his Grandchildren and great grandchildren, especially in his later years.

Ross is survived by his three living children, eight Grandchildren, Heather Emmons (Randy), Elizabeth Nordine, Lawrence Alexander Nordine, Quention Collier, Ross Jason (Jovanna), Kristina Farnsworth (Seth), Desiree Workman (Daniel), Courtney Thomason (Mathew Bradley), as well as sixteen Great Grandchildren.

The family of Ross G Hamilton would like to thank the many wonderful nurses and staff of Hope West for the loving and compassionate service and care that Ross received.