Robert Ross

Robert D. 'Bob' Ross

Bob left this world doing what he loved, flying. On August 12, 2016, he took his final flight in his beloved Beachcraft Baron. He also had a great love for his family, his country, and the United States Marine Corps. His love of flying took him all over the United States, and his love of country took him around the world as a young Marine. Bob loved being in the Marines and received numerous medals and awards, including the Purple Heart, earned while serving in Vietnam, but the love of family brought him back to his roots in Kentucky, where he taught at the U of L School of Business, worked for the IRS and enjoyed a very successful career as a CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner, and became the much beloved owner of Ross & Co.

Bob had many talents; he was not only a brilliant CPA, but quite the jokester and prankster. Ask anyone that knew him. His love of a good joke or prank brought laughter to everyone he met...including Bob, himself. Judy often found him in the evening sitting in his recliner chuckling to himself while thinking of a good joke he had heard earlier that day or about a prank he planned to play on someone. Heaven now has its own stand-up comic...although he may have to clean up some of his jokes. It may seem like the love and laughter are gone; they are not. Bob left us with so many memories, that we all have plenty to share. Almost everyone has a 'Bob' story. Thanks for the memories, Bob.

Robert 'Bob' Donald Ross was born on January 18, 1943 in Flemingsburg, KY. He passed much too soon on August 12, 2016 in Fredericksburg, VA. His parents were Alexander 'Doc' and Edith Blanch Buchanon Ross. His father predeceased him in death, and his beloved mother passed the day after Bob. He was married to Judy Horn Ross for 14 wonderful years and they were in the process of building their dream retirement home when he passed. His children are Anita (Gabe) Ross, Jeffery (Yvonne) Ross, Lavita (Jason) Miller, and Lee Ann (Darrell) Preston. He was a fun and amazing Granddaddy to Priscilla and Victoria Cox, Abigail and Lydia Oxford, Ciara Harrell, Robert James Ross, Hailey Tackett, DJ Preston, and three wonderful great-grandchildren. With all his heart, he loved his siblings: Robert L. (Jane) Ross, Tommy (Mary Ann) Ross, Ann (Charles) Crislip, Terrell Ross, and Brenda (Dickie) Dillon. Sadly, his brothers, Robert L. and Terrell both predeceased him in death. He loved and was loved by many nieces and nephews.

Bob was a Marine always and forever. Even after his military service was completed, he continued to be actively involved in the Marine Corps League in Louisville, and earlier this year was honored with the Marine of the Year Medallion Award for 2016 for outstanding accomplishments and service to the league. Bob was also honored as a top ten veteran owned business in 2016 by Business First Magazine of Louisville, KY The awards and honors Bob received throughout his life are far too numerous to list here. It was a life well lived by a man of honor and integrity. Semper Fi, Bob, Semper Fi.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 pm, Friday October 14, 2016 at the Carpenter-Fritz & Vice Funeral Home in Flemingsburg with Marine Brief Order Rites at 6:30 pm performed by the Kentuckiana Marine Corps League Detachment #729. Funeral services will be 11:00 am Saturday, October 15th at the funeral home. Burial will be at 3:00 pm in Gethsemane Gardens in Prestonsburg, KY with Military Funeral Honors performed by the United States Marine Corps, the DAV Auxier Chapter #18, and the Kentuckiana Marine Corps League Detachment #729. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Kentuckiana Marine Corps League Detachment #729, P.O. Box 991367, Louisville, KY 40269.

Visitation:
5-8 pm Friday (10/14/16) at Carpenter-Fritz & Vice Funeral Home

Funeral:
11:00 am Saturday (10/15/16) at Carpenter-Fritz & Vice Funeral Home

Interment:
3:00 pm Saturday (10/15/16) Gethsemane Gardens - Prestonsburg, KY