Russell C. Ross 1929 - 2006

JOHNSON, ROSS, ODEA

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/19/2019 at 20:06:50

Sioux City Journal
6 July 2006

Russell C. Ross of Sioux City slipped the surly bonds of earth flying home to the magnificent horizon in the sky on June 30, 2006.

Services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Christy-Smith Larkin Northside Chapel. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, with the family present 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the funeral home. Following the graveside services, there will be a luncheon at the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple, 820 Nebraska Street.

Our dad, Russell, was born July 11, 1929, to Charles T. and Anna (Johnson) Ross in Sioux City. He has an older brother, Bob, and from all reports, he was a typical American boy. He attended public schools in Sioux City and graduated from Central High School in 1947.

He married Kathleen O'Dea and they had five children. They were later divorced. Dad reconnected with an old classmate, Shirley Swenson, at a class reunion and ever since, were inseparable.

Dad began his flying career at the age of 15, taking flying instructions at Graham Flying Service in Stevens, S.D. (which is now North Sioux City). He soloed on his 16th birthday, July 11, 1945. When the Sioux City Air Base opened after World War II, he earned his private license with Midwest Aviation. He took his "check ride" in Le Mars, Iowa, on Dec. 14, 1946. Dad continued flying at Graham and Midwest Aviation renting aircraft. Later, he enlisted in the 174th Air Guard Unit in 1946. He flew "rear seat" in T-6s and C47s with some of the Guard pilots. He joined the Civil Air Patrol in the 1950s. As an adult, he owned a variety of planes including a Luscombe 8-A, a Piper Cub and a Citabria.

As an adult, he built a Thorp T-18 complete with a Lycoming 0320 engine and actually started construction in his garage. Later, he took a trip and flew the T-18 to Alaska. Dad received a Grand Champion Homebuilt Aircraft award for the same plane at Siouxland Aviation Days from Mid-America Air Museum. He also received a Pilot Proficiency Award from the FAA program stating that he had satisfactorily completed the requirements to wear Pilot Proficiency Wings Phase VI attesting to his dedication to aviation safety. He also won a Grand Champion Neo-Classic Award for the Cessna 31OB. Our dad, after having flown for more than 62 years was recently nominated for the distinguished Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award -- a national award for 50 years of accident-free flying. He had met all the qualifications and the award would have been upcoming. His flying was his lifelong passion and he felt very honored to be receiving this award.

Just after he graduated from high school, Dad began racing midget race cars at tracks around the area. One of his favorite tracks was the Soo Speed Bowl in Cherokee, Iowa. He had some great memories of midget racing and he looked back on those days with lots of fondness. He was proud to become a member of the Triangle Lodge as a Third Degree Mason in 1972. He then joined the Shriners at the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple and became a member of the Flying Fez. He flew many children with medical conditions and their families to Shriner Hospitals in the Midwest. He received an award from the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple for invaluable services and cooperation extended. He was always ready to give a helping hand when and where ever needed. Dad was also very proud to be an American. He felt the United States was the best country in the world and always said he lived in the best of times. Dad kept abreast of current local and national events. He was in touch with his congressman, representatives and

local officials on a regular basis concerning political issues important to him. The Journal editorial page knew him well.

Dad had also been involved in the Castle on the Hill Association, receiving an award of appreciation for time, service and financial aid for furthering the cause of preserving the Castle on the Hill. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association, earning a National Patriot's Medal, a past president of the Missouri Valley Midget Auto Racing Association, Central High School Alumni Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Ducks Unlimited. He was an avid outdoorsman, who loved hunting and had many stories to tell about his adventures. Other favorite pastimes included travel and as a World War II buff, he especially enjoyed a trip to Europe, playing Rook with special friends; love of dogs; spending time with family; having coffee with his coffee buddies solving the world's problems; and encouraging his grandchildren to become pilots. His life was so full but on rare occasions there was time between activities to take a snooze.

His employment career began with the Sioux City Gas and Electric Company (previously Iowa Public Service and now Mid-American Energy) as a meter reader in 1949, served as a power plant electrician and retired as a substation crew superintendent after 43 years in 1992. At his retirement party, his boss noted that he never had to worry about the quality of dad's work --- when he did a job, he did it right the first time.

Grateful for having shared his life are Pam and Mark Wilmes, Debbie and Steve Lyman and John Ross, all of Sioux City, Mindy and Barney Hill of Omaha; grandchildren, Jodi (Shane) Fiscus, Ryan Wilmes, Matthew Wilmes, Melissa Lyman, Steve Lyman, Amy (Jeff) Prellwitz and Jennifer Hill; several great-grandchildren; and his brother, Robert Ross and his wife, Marynee of Palm Valley, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a daughter, Cynthia Ross Andersen.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Ryan Wilmes, Matthew Wilmes, Steve P. Lyman, his great-grandson, Blake Meister, family member, Shane Fiscus and friend, Red Nash. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Jolin, Jack Jolin, Dean Snyder, Gene Martin, Carl Noltze, Charles Kirby, Dale Bjorkman, Bob Heath, Jack Ward, Rick Alter, Warren Forsling, Ron Risk, Wilson Scott, Mel Fox, Terry Turner, John Hamel, Duane McCallun, Ed Swanson and the Flying Fez of Sioux City.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Shriners Transportation Fund or the Russell C. Ross Aviation Scholarship Fund.

Dear Dad, 1: We didn't know what in the world we thought we were doing. 2: Yes, we actually did think you were made of money and ... 3: Yes, we thought you owned the electric company. We love you, Dad. Keep your wings level on the horizon and happy landings.