Corinne Ross

She is survived by daughters Karen A. Ross and Colleen D. Ross both of Worthington, Ohio and granddaughters Grace (Bryce Hayton) and Maddie Ross-Witherup.

Ruby Corinne was born March 31, 1927 in Defiance, and raised in Wauseon, Ohio by devoted parents Lorena (Osterhout) and Joseph Rex. To avoid confusion with her namesake, her aunt Ruby, she used her middle name Corinne. She was fondly called “Baby” by her father and within her adult family teasingly referred to as “Milady“ or the “queen”. Both titles were never denied.

Corinne lived a wonderfully independent and special life as told by her own account through funny and outrageous stories. She prioritized a life that wasn’t dictated by keeping up with anyone else. She had a sassy way of being and a sarcastic wit. She had opinions. She was fascinated by family genealogy. When Corinne and her mother became interested in joining the DAR before the age of the internet, it began a clever journey combining family vacations and needed county courthouses. She loved classic movies and especially a good murder mystery if the villain got their due. Corinne often told her children if she could have a secret power, it would be invisibility. . . to be a fly on the wall and make sure the truth was being told and justice doled out.

Corinne was fiercely loyal to those she loved as daughter, wife, mom, gramma and cousin. Those relationships were what made life precious and important. If you made it into the inner sanctum, you knew her generosity and love.

An animal lover from an early age she shared stories of dogs to play with and an excitement over any horse she could visit or ride. On many weekends she talked her father into taking her to places she could make the dream of riding a reality. She loved to read and thought nothing of walking a mile to the library by herself as a little girl.

During her teen years, Lorena (widowed) moved them to Grandview for a new job at Motorists Mutual Ins. and a home on Elmwood Avenue. Corinne attended and graduated from Grandview High School in 1944. She shared many stories of high school sororities and dear friendships that lasted her lifetime.

On the weekends she would often take the train to Toledo to visit her aunt, uncle and cousin Rosemary. Both being only children they were more like sisters than cousins. Sometimes Aunt Ruby took them on excursions into Detroit to shop and dine. A cashmere sweater was the ultimate purchase. Adventurous stories about their ongoing shenanigans were the delight of her granddaughters.

After high school she began classes at Ohio State University with an interest in psychology. Her attendance was cut short sophomore year when a citywide bus strike made it difficult to get to classes. She decided to take a secretarial job at Dennison Engineering which was walkable distance from home. Even though it was a disappointing twist to leave college, her new job brought her new and dear friends.

Those good friends introduced her to the love of her life, Boyd H. Ross. He was smitten from their introduction and had no intention of being with anyone else. When Corinne traveled to California with her mother to visit friends, Boyd wrote a love letter every day she was gone of that five-week journey. They married in 1951 and moved to Sunbury, Ohio to start a family and have enough room for a horse, lambs, chickens, cats and a dalmatian named Brundy.

As 2 daughters came into the picture they moved back into Columbus for a few years, to be closer to her mother, whom she adored. Her horse was boarded nearby and an English bulldog joined the family. When the time for elementary school drew near, a move to Johnstown, Ohio and a big old house on Main Street made sense. The girls could walk to Oregon Elementary around the corner and run freely with friends in the neighborhood.

But Corinne and Boyd both liked being in the country and although he drove into Columbus each day to work at Buckeye Federal Savings & Loan, they bought and moved to a farmhouse with 100 acres on the edge of Johnstown. Corinne could have horses at home again and Boyd could add farm life. They stayed until Karen and Colleen graduated from Johnstown-Monroe HS and their respective colleges.

In 1983, with the freedom of an empty nest, they chose to move closer to Boyd’s Cumberland, Ohio roots. They settled into the life of small college town living in New Concord. A few acres on Friendship Drive became home for 36 years. Hostas, clematis and daylilies replaced horses as her focus. Well-loved dogs like Bert, their Pug, lived a large and spoiled life. Good friends and neighbors and the routines of life and family rounded out a lovely existence. In 2013, after Boyd passed, Corinne decided to stay in New Concord with its familiar routines and friends for several more years.

A final jump in 2019 to an apartment at Brookdale Trillium in Columbus meant being closer to her family. She brought her favorite antiques, art and albums. Corinne found a home there with wonderful new friends having much in common. Her day included a regular group of dinner companions, listening to music, reading books, visiting with family and binging on a good tv series. Fridays included live music and happy hour with friends.

Corinne had a sense of style and innate elegance. One of her favorite pastimes was putting together outfits. She soon developed a reputation for never wearing the same ensemble twice. Matching reading glasses were a plus.

For all but a few months, Corinne lived a vivacious life with very few health setbacks. Since late Spring, cumulative health issues made her independent life more difficult to navigate. After numerous hospital stays, she inevitably required around the clock care. However, she desperately wanted to stay in her lovely apartment surrounded by her treasures. This was made possible with the help of her devoted daughters and the exceptional, loving care provided by both Brookdale at Home employees and Capital City Hospice.

Corinne was an exceptional woman. Although 98 years is an incredible amount of time, for those who knew and loved her, it will never be long enough. She will forever by missed by friends and family that loved her deeply.

In lieu of flowers, please select your favorite trusted animal charity or rescue to donate to in Corinne’s name.