Harold Frederick Ross

Harold Frederick Ross, 96, of Gallipolis Ferry died Saturday, July 25, 2015, at home. He was born March 22, 1919, in Pomeroy, Ohio, a son of the late Andrew Jackson Ross and Florence Elizabeth (Miller) Ross. Harold was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Point Pleasant. He had been a member of the church choir at Trinity Church and also a member of a barbershop quartet. He served his country honorably in the United States Army with General Patton in South Africa and General Clark in Italy. His educational career began at Marshall University, where he played in the marching band for two years, and later transferred to WVU, where he obtained degrees in Agronomy and Socioeconomics. He began his Ph.D. degree fellowship at the University of Arizona and later took his first job in research at the University of Florida in soil science. He had also worked for WSAZ, giving the "Farm Report", and had been a professor at North Carolina State and West Virginia University. He was inducted into the Mason County Farm Bureau Hall of Fame. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita (Farinash) Ross; brothers, Harry, Bill, Howard, George, and Jack Ross; and a stepson, James Bingham. He is survived by one brother, Roy (Wanda) Ross of Port Orange, FL; nieces, Stephanie (Doug) Goff, Valerie (John) Fowler, Susan Shaffer, Angela Bumpus, Judy Lynn Devaney, Debbie Ross, and Elizabeth Ross; one nephew, Jay Ross; and special caretakers, nieces Val, Sue, Stef, Cecelia and Darlena Davis. A funeral service will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at Wilcoxen Funeral Home in Point Pleasant. Burial will be 9 a.m., Wednesday, at Ross Family Cemetery in Gallipolis Ferry, with military graveside rites given by the WV Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post No. 23 of Point Pleasant. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions be made to Pleasant Valley Hospice, 1011 Viand Street, Point Pleasant, WV 25550 or the Mason County Animal Shelter, c/o Mason County Courthouse, 6th and Viand St., Point Pleasant, WV 25550. Condolences may be expressed to the family and memories may be shared by visiting www.wilcoxenfuneralhome.com.