John Ross

Benjamin Funeral Service - Nowata, Oklahoma...................... John Earl Ross passed away Sunday, May 3, 2015 at his home in Oologah. He was born May 15, 1929 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Henry Earl Ross and Iona Myrtle Jacobs Ross. He attended Talala Schools but left after the 8th grade so that he could work and help support the family since he was the oldest of seven children. John loved to travel and as a young man he made his way to California where he eventually met and married Vivian Jeannette Roberts Orlando in 1954. With the marriage to Vivian, John gained his step-children Dorothy, Jim, and Jeanne; and later came their own children, Donald Earl and Patricia Lynn (Patty). In 1964, the family returned to Oklahoma and in 1965 they moved into the new home that John had helped to build and that he continued to live in at the time of his death. After Vivian's death in 1990, John married Mary Mabry Lester in 1994. They were former elementary school classmates that were reintroduced to each other by John's sister, Jeannette Rott. Mary's death in 2002 led John's sister to again play matchmaker and she introduced John to Faye Fuller who has been his friend and companion since 2004. John was a machinist by trade but he enjoyed carpentry and his home contains many built-in cabinets, shelves, and other items that he made. John was also a handyman who could fix most anything and he still changed the oil in his car and still mowed his lawn. He was a one-of-a-kind with a unique sense of humor and a love of practical jokes. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his son, Donald Ross and his wife Hiromi of Coweta; a daughter, Patty Wing and husband James of Owasso; his wife Vivian's children, Jim Orlando of Minnesota and Jeanne Been of Tulsa; his brother, Joe Ross of California; his sisters, Connie Buster of Louisiana, and Beverly Morris of Ripley; his companion, Faye Fuller; and numerous step-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives Vivian and Mary; step-daughter, Dorothy; grandson, Robert Jenkins; brothers, Vernon Ross and Dewey Ross; and sister, Jeannette Rott. Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, May 8, 2015 at Benjamin Funeral Service Chapel in Nowata with interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery in Talala. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemorie.com.

Visitation Details

Wednesday, May 6th, 2015 12:00pm - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Thursday, May 7th, 2015 8:00am - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Friday, May 8th, 2015 8:00am - 12:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Service Details

Friday, May 8th, 2015 2:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Interment Details

Fairview Cemetery - Talala, OK