John Tawney Ross, Jr., age 97, of Colfax, North Carolina, passed away at his home on the afternoon of April 8, 2026. Born September 30, 1928, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, he was the son of the late John Tawney Ross, Sr. and Stella Gertrude Ashley Ross. He attended St. Mary’s High School and later West Virginia University, earning his high school diploma in 1946 and a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953.
John proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1949 as a Seabee, achieving the rank of Construction Electrician Third Class (CE3). He was stationed in Guam and continued his service in the U.S. Naval Reserve until 1953. For his service, he was awarded the American Theater Medal and the World War II Victory Medal, and he was honorably discharged in 1953.
He dedicated more than 35 years to a career with British Petroleum (formerly Gulf Oil Corporation), retiring in 1991 as Terminal Manager in Greensboro, North Carolina.
On December 26, 1953, John married the late, Clara Mae Alt, in Oakland, Maryland. Together they built a life grounded in devotion, curiosity, and shared pursuits.
John was a man of remarkable skill and wide-ranging interests. He found great joy in building and flying radio-controlled model airplanes and held an amateur radio license. He gave generously of his time as a Boy Scout advisor and had a lifelong fascination with coins and stamps. A gifted craftsman, he could build, fix, or improve nearly anything, whether in woodworking, electrical work, plumbing, or mechanical systems. He also enjoyed gardening, landscaping, astronomy, and ornithology. For more than 45 years, he worked side by side with Clara Mae in her genealogical research, a testament to both his patience and his deep commitment to family.
He is survived by his brother, Eldon Wayne Ross; his son, Robert Alan Ross and wife Joy; his son, Gary David Ross; his grandchildren, Jennifer Ross Buckner and husband Justin, and Robert “Bobby” Brandon Ross; and his great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Claire Buckner and Katherine Marie Buckner.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Fraley Funeral Home Chapel, 107 Washington Street with Pastor Mark Flynn officiant. Interment will follow with Military Graveside Rites Accorded by the U.S. Navy and the Moorefield Veteran’s Honor Guard in Olivet Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
The family requests memorial contributions may be made to the UNC Division of Pulmonary Diseases (give.unc.edu/give/pdcc) or Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (pulmonaryfibrosis.org). To offer condolences, share memories, or upload photos in honor of John’s extraordinary life, visit his Tribute Wall at www.fraleyfuneralhome.com and celebrate the impact he made on all those around him.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Fraley Funeral Home.
