OLIVER, J. Ross 1905-1998

OLIVER, MILNER, MCCLURE, ECKARDT, MOORE

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 1/28/2011 at 23:33:41

[Mason City Globe Gazette, October 17, 1998]

MASON CITY — J. Ross Oliver, 92, of Ankeny, formerly of Mason City, died Thursday (Oct. 15, 1998) at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Des Moines.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday in the Wayside Chapel of First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia Ave., Mason City, with the Rev. Doug Anderson officiating. Burial will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Masonic services will be held at 7 p.m. today, conducted by Harding Lodge No. 649 A.F. and A.M. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., and also at the church one hour prior to the service Monday.

Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church, Mason City.

Ross was born December 13, 1905, near Red Oak, the son of John A. and Quinnetta (Milner) Oliver. Ross graduated from Red Oak High School in 1923, attended junior college in Red Oak and graduated from Iowa State University in 1929.

Ross married Helen M. McClure on Sept. 14, 1929, at Ames. He and Helen moved to Mason City in 1952.

Ross was an area conservationist for the Department of Agriculture (Soil Conservation Service) for 36 years, retiring in 1969. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Noon Kiwanis Club, Harding Masonic Lodge, York Rite, White Shrine, El Kahir Shrine Temple, High Twelve and Demolay, was a past president of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, was a charter member of United Ostomy Association, a former member of the Agricultural Engineers Society, a member Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and A.A.R.P. and was a life member of O.P.E.D.A.

Ross is survived by his son, John M. Oliver and his wife, Julie, of Burnet, Texas; his daughter, Carolyn Eckardt and her husband, Dean, of Ankeny; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Phoebe Moore, of Branson Mo.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen; one grandchild; and three brothers.