Veronica "Ronnie" Catherine Ross

Her first home as a “military brat” was the Jungle Operations Center at Fort Sherman, Panama Canal Zone, where her father was stationed during his tour of duty with the Army Air Corps. She was the oldest of seven children and had three sisters and three brothers. When she was just ten (10) years old her father promoted her to “Leader of the Pack”, and told her she was no longer a child and had to set a good example for her sisters and brothers to follow. She never played with dolls, because she had the real thing. Her father served as Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Commander of the American Legion in Panama. As leader of the pack her father hired her as secretary and she typed all the envelopes and letters notifying the members of meetings, etc. on her father’s Underwood typewriter.

When she graduated high school she was accepted to the Walter Reed Army Hospital School of Nursing. It was always her lifelong dream to become a Registered Nurse. Unfortunately, her parents divorced after her high school graduation so she put her nursing career on hold to stay home and comfort her mother. However, she was able to attend college and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree.

She made many personal and career sacrifices during her marriage by pulling up stakes every three (3) years and traveling all over the world to accompany her husband on his military assignments. She traveled extensively and lived in Central America, South America, Europe and Asia and could speak and write Spanish fluently. She could also speak and understand some Italian, Portuguese and Korean. Her favorite overseas assignment was three (3) years at Yongsan, Korea where her husband served as Battalion Commander. She loved the people, their strong family values and their commitment to excellence in everything they accomplished. At the end of their tour in April 1985, they returned to Georgia.

She was happily married for 25 years to Jerry A. Ross from Bozeman, Montana. He was a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who served two (2) tours of duty in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot flying rescue missions. He logged over 7500 flying hours during his 22 year military career, which may be why Veronica developed an intense interest in flying airplanes. She attended Aviation Ground School, took flying lessons and learned to fly the Cessna 150, the Cessna172, and the Piper Cherokee140, which they owned. She received her Private Pilot’s License in 1973.

She was very proud that she had 30 years of loyal and dedicated service as a Management Analyst for the Department of Defense. She enjoyed volunteer work at the hospitals and nursing homes that she visited. She was a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children who were abused and needed to be rescued. She worked with the Department of Family and Child Services to find loving foster homes for these children. She also shared her life experiences and life lessons as a volunteer motivational speaker for grief and cancer support groups. She was a member of the following organizations: Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) and Peachtree City First Presbyterian Church.

She also supported charities such as: Wounded Warriers, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Georgia Sheriffs Association, St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Montana and others.

She was preceded in her death by her husband, Jerry A. Ross; her father, Paul Raymond Walker; and her brother, Raymond Paul Walker, who served in Vietnam in 1968 and was awarded a purple heart. Approximately two years after returning home, he lost his life from a hit and run car accident.

Survivors are her mother, Geronima Camacho; sisters, Shirley Bowers, Mary Perez and Louise Guievere; and brothers, Paul Walker and Johnny Walker. Also surviving is her significant other, soul mate and best friend, David Heerde.

No Memorial Service is currently scheduled as she preferred to have a celebration or party at her passing.