LeRoy Frank Gross

LeRoy was born to Clara K. and George Charles Gross, on May 5, 1921 in Defiance, Iowa. Three brothers, Alfred, Arthur and Clarence Gross, preceded him in death as well as his first wife, Marilyn Biggers Gross in 1976.

LeRoy joined the Civilian Conservations Corps in 1940 and enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1942. While in boot camp in San Diego, he met and married Marilyn Biggers, before deploying to Pearl Harbor in 1943. After combat on Guadalcanal and Peleliu, he landed on Saipan Island.

In December 1945, after 32 months of duty overseas he was transferred to Guam and then returned to the United States to meet his daughter, Jo Lynn who was nearly two years old. A second daughter, Patsy Lee, was born in 1946.

In 1963, LeRoy set a new record for the Fourth Annual InterService 1000 yard Rifle Match, which was held at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia. Dad believed the record still stands to this day.

After serving nearly 26 years in the Marine Corps, LeRoy retired as a Gunnery Sargent in 1968. From 1968 to 1986 he had another career as Package Store manager for the PX Club System on Camp Pendleton, California and retired again after 18 years.

Survived by his wife of 35 years, Carolyn, daughters Jo Lynn Winter (Jerry), Patsy Lee Degnan, grandchildren David Brian Winter, Debra Lynn Degnan, Eric Royce Brazelton, and great granddaughter, Angelica Degnan.

Always proud to be a Marine, LeRoy was a kind and gentle man, loved by everyone who knew him.

Graveside Services, with military honors, will be held at Eternal Hills Memorial Park on February 20th at 2 PM., 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054. 760 754-6600

Please feel free to send any special memories to [email protected] to be shared with our family.