RAYMOND FRANCIS ROSS

May 20, 1920 – February 3, 2014

A LOVING TRIBUTE:

His Life & Family

Prepared with Love by Patti Ross

Raymond was born in Chicago on May 20, 1920, to Oscar & Carolyn Ross

Raymond, 1921

Raymond as a little boy!

Raymond a bit older

Ray Skated and

Wrestled as a Boy

Ray started his service at Lloyd School where he was Class Monitor, even won an award!

His community service continued in high school and then when he joined the military and later

held office on Lutheran Church Council.

Raymond was the oldest of five siblings

Dad, Ray, Shirley, Marie, Jeannie & Mom

Brother Harold died in infancy

About 1948: Ray & Dorothy with Marie, Mom & Dad, Bill & Shirley, Jean in the middle with Margie, Dorothy holding Nancy, Shirley holding Billy

Ray Graduated Steinmetz High School in 1938. One of his favorite memories was seeing Dorothy

across the crowded cafeteria—and knowing she was the one!

It was LOVE

at first sight!

WEDDING DAY: June 7, 1941

Mr. & Mrs. Ray Ross

Ray served in the U. S. Marine Corp, Platoon 698 from 1944 to 1946. He was on

the beaches of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945 when the flag was raised on higher

ground. He also spent time in Guam.

His family is proud of his service!

Although Ray was off at war,

love survives!

Ray & Dorothy had five children, all girls!

1955

About 1960

In 1961, Ray & Dorothy left Newcastle Ave. to move the family to Temple City, CA.

Ray mowing the lawn on Newcastle Ave.

Margaret, their eldest daughter, had recently married so stayed in Chicago.

IT WAS HARD TO SAY GOODBYE TO PARENTS

Kitty Birkemoe

Oscar & Carolyn Ross

ROSS Family Portrait Not Long After Moving to California

RAY WENT A BIT NATIVE WHEN FIRST LIVING IN CALIFORNIA—CREW CUT AT FIRST AND SHIRTLESS IN THE BACK YARD!

RAYMOND & HIS SIBLINGS

SHIRLEY’S WEDDING: Ray, Shirley, Bill & Marie

VISITING MARIE & HER SON: Years Later

UNCLE BILL VISITNG IN 1991

RAY WITH HIS YOUNGEST & SURVIVING SISTER JEAN

1942

Together after their Dad’s Funeral, June 1992

RAY’S PARENTS LIVED NEAR BY IN TEMPLE CITY FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEN AFTER HIS MOM’S DEATH, HIS DAD LIVED

WITH RAY & DOROTHY FOR A TIME AS WELL.

RAY SHOWED HIS PATRIOTISM BY SERVING IN THE

MILIRARY, FLYING THE FLAG, VOTING, AND SHARING HIS VIEWS THROUGH

MANY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Ray & Dorothy Over the Years

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!”

“We’ll still celebrate for you each year with cake and ice cream.

Okay, chocolate and apple pie too!”

SOME ANNIVERSARIES

25th Anniversary

Around 70th Anniversary

Two 50th Anniversary Celebrations

A FAVORITE ACTIVITY, BUT DAD CLAIMS IT IS THE CHAIR!

RAY LOVED HIS WORK AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, TAKING PHOTOS AT WEDDINGS AND FOR SCHOOLS & GROUPS

An Early Selfie!

BUT RAY’S REAL PASSION WAS FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

Whether at home, at the Arboretum, in Texas, Oregon, Hawaii or Alaska, Dad always had his

camera with him!

SOME OF DAD’S NATURE PHOTOGRAPHS

WINNER!

Ray’s Rose Picture “The Art of God” was published as part of an

International Photography Contest

Ray’s Kite Picture of Mom won a Community Photography Contest & is on

display at the Live Oak Park Building. Other work is on display at Eaton Canyon.

I FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE TAKEN MANY NATURE PHOTO TRIPS WITH DAD!

CA Poppy PreserveBig Sur

Salton SeaMany Zoos

Whale Watching, Ventura

And Many More Places!

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

DAD PATIENTLY PUT THE LIGHTS ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE, GETTING

THEM ON JUST SO!

“A fun tradition as a kid was tagging along to buy the tree!”

“A house is made of walls and beams. A home is built with

love and dreams.” Proverb

No matter where they are,

if Mom & Dad are there, it feels like

HOME!

Chocolate always helps

ROSS FAMILY OVER THE YEARS

ALL THE GRANDCHILDREN

Except Jason, the youngest, had not been

born yet!

In these , Kurt, the oldest grandchild, is missing

50th Anniversary Celebration, 1991

But I bet Kurt is asking, “Are we having fun yet?!”

GRANDPA WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER—THEY’RE ALL GROWN UP NOW

Lisa Peter Jason

Paul

Jimmy

Kurt

MichelleKacy

Kevin

RAY’S GREAT GRANDCHILDREN

Mila

JosieBenjamin

PhillipPaul

Logan

Ledger

Ray did not get a chance to hold his newest great grandchildren, but he did enjoy hearing about them being healthy and happy. A few days before his

death, he enjoyed these pictures of the newest members of the family.

Roland Thunder Curtis, about 9 months Cassidy Rose Curtis, about 1 week

DAD WAS ALWAYS ONE TO TEASE & JOKE. . . & TOLERATE POSING FOR SILLY PICTURES

“Who’s that

handsome guy?”

DISTANT RELATIVES ARE ALWAYS CLOSE AT HEART

Robert, Ray’s Godson

GOOD FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS TREASURED

PATTI

My 1st car was Dad’s old VW Bug

FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO DAD & I

VISITED EVERY SATURDAY

He enjoyed eating chili and apple pie at Marie Callenders

BARBARA&

FAMILY

BARBARA & FAMILY

MARY & FAMILY

MARY & FAMILY

NANCY & FAMILY

NANCY & FAMILY

MARGIE&

FAMILY

MARGIE & FAMILY

SAYING GOODBYE Ray had a chance to visit Dorothy

the day before she passed.

Ray, Barbara & Dorothy

November 3, 2012

A VISIT TO BRING FLOWERS TO MOM’S GRAVE

“Mom was there in spirit!”

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE 2013 Ray Enjoyed the Visitors & the Goodies!

MOSTLY OPEN

HOUSE PHOTOS

2013

Mary sent a Christmas Message!

“Those who have never known the deep intimacy

and the intense

companionship of happy mutual

love have missed the best thing

that life has to give.”

Bertrand Russell

H

THEIR LOVE WILL CONTINUE FOREVER

Sunrise, sunset, Sunrise, sunsetSwiftly fly the yearsOne season following anotherLaden with happiness - and - tears.

Jerry Bock

RAYMOND FRANCIS ROSSFather & Brother

Husband & FatherProvider

PhotographerGood Friend & Neighbor

GrandfatherGreat Grandfather

Raymond, you are loved and will be missed—thanks for all

the love and concern you have given us over the years!