Lawrence "Larry" Edward Ross

Lawrence Edward “Larry” Ross, SMSgt retired, U.S. Air Force, 82, of Niceville, FL, passed away on Monday, November 27, 2017.

He was born to the late Lawrence M. and Sarah Elvira Ross, Jan. 10, 1935, in Lawrenceville, NY.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Paulette Gabrielle Ross, to whom he was married from 1973 until she passed away in August of 2014. He was also preceded in death by his siblings Charles, Robert, Corbin, Horace, Jane, Josephine, and Howard.

Larry enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Feb. 9, 1953 in Albany, NY. He served at several Air Force Bases across the United States and served international tours of duty in Vietnam and Iceland. Larry was as an aircraft maintenance technician, bomber maintenance crew chief, and was perhaps most proud of his work as a liquid fuel systems maintenance technician on the Titan II and Titan III rockets. He retired and was honorably discharged at Richards-Gebaur AFB in Missouri as an NCOIC on Aug. 31, 1975.

Apart from a three-year assignment in Missouri, Larry and Paulette lived together in Niceville, FL throughout their 41-year marriage.

After retiring from military service, Larry worked for the City of Niceville in the Parks & Recreation department, where he loved to be outdoors, garden, and plant trees and flowers to beautify the city. He made many good community friendships through his employment with the City. He also worked at ACE Hardware, which allowed him to share his enjoyment and knowledge of gardening and home improvement with the community.

Larry was an amiable and social man who loved to golf, dance, play games, and be with family and friends. He drew his greatest happiness and fulfillment from enjoying life with his wife. They loved traveling, gardening, and socializing with family and friends together.

Following his wife’s passing, Larry’s social life continued to flourish at the Superior Residences of Bluewater Bay, where he was very popular among his neighbors. He participated in social activities including playing pool, shuffle board, chair yoga, and weekly community dances, where he continued his love of dancing.

Larry is survived by a large, loving family, including his sister, Florence Ross, his three children Jerry Moore with his wife Donna, Sandra Thompson, and Suzette Gramm with her husband Barry; his seven grandchildren Patrick Adair, Jonathan Thompson, Jennifer Thompson, Joshua Thompson, Jeremy Cushing, James Mabry, Brice Gramm; and his eight great grandchildren Riley Cushing, Parker Cushing, Margaret Anne Adair, Lily Kate Adair, Ava Thompson, Connor Mabry, Madison Mabry, and Eden Gramm.

He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in honor of Larry to a charity of your choice.

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