She was born on April 23, 1935 to the late Paul Thompson Canipe Sr. and Bessie Berryhill Canipe in Catawba County. Ethel was the owner/operator of Gross Trucking. She was a devoted member of Mt. Grove Baptist Church.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Julius “Babe” “Rooster” T. Gross; and son, William “Billy” Gross Sr.
Survivors include her daughter, Darlene Gilbert and husband Jeff of Catawba; son, Michael “Bar Room” Gross and wife Sandy of Hickory; daughter- in- law, Judy Gross of Ponchatoula, LA; grandchildren, Tasha Bryant, Bill Gross, Jr., Misty Smith, CB Gilbert, Harley Gross, Hannah Gross; great grandchildren, Lucas Gross, Terra Smith, Tessa Smith, Wade Gross, Emma Gilbert;
four sisters, Elizabeth Mathis, Carrie Vanhorn, Patricia Brown, Brenda Tarchala; two brothers, Paul “Bud” Canipe, Carroll Canipe; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Hickory Funeral Home. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 3:00 until 3:45 p.m. at the funeral home. Bishop Dennis Pitts will be officiating the service. Burial will follow at Mountain Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Gilbert, Shane Smith, Michael and Harley Gross, Billy, Jr. and Lucas Gross, and Wade Gross.
Memorials may be made to New Covenant Church of God, 1286 Henry River Road, Hickory, NC 28602.
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