William Henry Gross

William (Bill) Henry Gross Jr. was born to William Henry Gross Sr. and Bertha Edna Spencer Gross on October 24, 1929 in Washington DC. He was the eldest of six children. The family moved to Baltimore Maryland in 1934. He attended Samuel Coleridge Taylor elementary, Booker T. Washington junior high, and Fredrick Douglass junior-senior High School. William, along with his sister Sonora and his lifelong friend Thomas Deshields, played in the elementary school drum and bugle corps. He was reared/raised in a Christian home. They were aclose knit loving family where spending holidays together was a joy. Bill received Christ at a young age. He was a member of Trinity AME Church in Baltimore Maryland. Where he actively participated in, Sunday School, choir and Children and Youth ministries. He was a Boy Scout, and as a member of the Drum and Bugle Corp. during WW2 Bill played for the flag raising ceremonies.

Bill joined the military at Fort Mead, Maryland at the age of 17, with the permission of his parents. After his basic training in San Antonino, Texas, Bill trained at Kelly Military Base and worked as an Aircraft and Engineer Mechanic. In 1948 Bill was transferred to Lockbourne Army Air Field in Ohio, home of the Tuskegee trained World War II “Red-Tails” now designated as the 322nd Fighter Group. As one of the youngest soldiers in the Group, Bill was mentored by the older and well-seasoned maintenance technicians who had diligently kept the honored Tuskegee Red tails flying during the War. Bill also trained in Avionic Systems at the Radar school at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS and became a Radar Technician. In August 0f 1949, the 332nd Fighter Squadron disbanded due to integration of the Military, Bill was sent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ. His extensive tours of duty lead him to two countries; England and South Korea and across the united states; Biloxi, Mississippi; Plattsburgh, New York; Spokane, Washington; Killeen, and Amarillo Texas; Claremont, South Dakota; Lockbourne, Ohio. Bill retired from the military in 1977 after 30 years of service.

Bill received numerous awards and commendations while in the military. He retired from the military as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1977 after 30 years of service.

In 1949 while stationed at Davis-Monthan, AFB in Tucson AZ, Bill began attending and joined Phillips Chapel CME Church. In 1977, after his retirement Bill reunited with Phillips was an active member, Bill had a beautiful Baritone voice and loved singing and music. He served as choir director and trustee. In 2010 Bill became the Chair-person of the Board of Trustees until his passing.

Bill was committed to continuing his education he attended school wherever he was stationed. He earned his GED and took college level courses. Bill continued his education at the University of Arizona and in 1979 he was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science in Public Administration With Distinction. In 1985 Bill was awarded the degree of Master of Public Administration while work in his next career as a Research analyst and Project Manager with the City of Tucson. He retired after fifteen years.

Bill married Thelma Breckenridge in 1955; they were married until her passing in 2006

Bill later married Paula Walker-White Gross she has been faithfully by his side

His father William H. Gross Sr. mother Bertha Edna Spencer-Gross, bother Benjamín Gross and sister Anna Gross-Thomas precede him in death. Bill left this earthly plain on January 17, 2020. He leaves to cherish his life, wife, Paula White Gross, sisters, Sonora Johnson, Elaine Lewis and Edna Talley, several generations of nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.