Lt. Col. Van Ross, USAF (Ret.)

Lt. Col. Van Ross USAF (Ret.), age 91, of Temple, formerly of San Angelo, died Saturday, January 23, 2021, at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Temple.  Due to CoVID restrictions, his family has decided on a private interment with a public memorial service to be held at a later date.  Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home, Coleman.

He was born Van Eldon Ross on December 30, 1929, in Megargel, Texas, the son of Earnest William Ross and Alta Smith Ross.  He grew up in Runge and Stanton and graduated from high school in Stanton in 1947.  He attended Texas Tech to become a petroleum engineer.  Since Van wanted to fly airplanes, he joined the United States Air Force and served honorably as an Air Force pilot and instructor in Korea and Viet Nam. Van retired from military service after 23 years with the rank of Lt. Colonel.  Following his retirement, he was an independent contractor as an avionics engineer and contracted with many aviation companies, including Mitsubishi, General Dynamics, Beechcraft, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin.  While working for Mitsubishi he met Marilyn Kraker, and they were married on September 5, 1983, in Las Vegas.  Van continued to work in the corporate avionic sector for many years, finally retiring in 2004.  Van and Marilyn had a home at Lake Nasworthy in San Angelo where they lived happily for nearly 40 years.  They sold their lake home and retired to Temple in 2018.  He was a member of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.)

Van was a loving husband, father, and friend and will be deeply missed by those who knew him.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Ross of Temple; one daughter, Leslie Ross and husband Scott Petermier of Seattle, Washington; one sister, Peggy Ross Glynn and husband James of San Angelo; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Alyce Bartley and husband Mickey of Temple, sister-in-law, Nancy Kennemer of Lubbock, numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.