A memorial service will be held 4:00 pm Friday, January 27, 2012 at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Kevin Calhoun and Dr. Jimmy Elder officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 5-7 pm at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus.
Mr. Gross was born June 14, 1928, the son of Wilfred E. Gross, Sr. and Martha Carter Harvey. A graduate of Columbus High School and the Georgia Institute of Technology he served in the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant. In 1959 he joined the family business, Harvey Lumber Company, a Columbus enterprise dating back to 1863. He became the CEO in 1953.
He was active in the Columbus community having served as Past President of the Columbus Boys Club, Past President of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Past President of the Columbus Rotary Club, Board Member of Suntrust Bank, and Intermet Corporation, co-founder of Kelly Manufacturing, Chairman of the Board of Northstar Corporation, former Trustee of Columbus State University and past Chairman of the Board of Deacons of First Baptist Church and Wynnbrook Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Beverly Chapman Gross, Children and their spouses, Bobby and Charlene Gross, Mary Carter and Ricky Wright, Billy and Melanie Gross and Bailey Gross, Eleven Grandchildren, Wry Wright, Will Wright, Caleb (and Jenna) Gross, Wesley Wright, Abigail Gross (and Todd) Haines (Todd), Evan Gross, Mailey Wright, Rebecca Gross, Mitchell Gross, Eliza Gross, and Rosemary Gross; and two great grandchildren, Mary Jennings Gross, and and Riley Wright.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Columbus Hospice Inc. www.columbushospice.com or International Friends Ministry 3404 University Ave, Columbus, Ga. 31907 or another charity of your choice .
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