Jesse D. Ross (JD) passed away to be with Jesus on 9 February 2024 after living a long, full life of 92 years. JD was born in Ava Missouri on April 10th, 1931. He joined the Army in 1949 and was sent overseas to Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1952. He was employed by Boeing in the 1960’s and worked on the development of the Boeing 747. He was very proud of the work he did during this time and this job led him to working for the military as a civilian in communications.
He met his wife, Judith (Algea) Ross at a square dance event where they fell in love and married in 1985. They both retired young and spent many years camping throughout the United States. They finally settled back in Ava where JD was a lifetime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, Ava Historical Society and Mansfield Historical Society. He attended Ava General Baptist Church. His hobbies included local history, camping, fishing, wood carving and building HO trains.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse H. Ross and Ruth (Joslin) Ross, sister Margaret Joan, half-sister Janice Cox and his daughter Donna McGinley. He is survived by his wife, Judith (Algea) Ross, Sons, Steven Ross and William Ross, half-brothers, Larry, Randy and Calvin Ross, half-sister, Janet (Ross) Clausen, stepchildren, Robert Algea and Cassandra Salvatore, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
JD and Judy moved to Illinois to be closer to Cassandra where he spent the last 18 months at a skilled nursing facility where he asked for possum on a stick and advised the staff not to squat with their spurs on or fry bacon in the nude.
Memorial services are scheduled for 15th of April, 2024 at 2pm at the Ava General Baptist Church with military honors by the U.S. Army detail and Troy Herd American Legion #112 at the church. Following will be a with a short graveside service in Ava Cemetery. Pastor Tim Reese will be officiating. Services are being conducted by the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, MO.
