Gene Willson Ross, Jr.

Dec. 1, 2008 12 AM PT

January 18, 1931 – November 28, 2008

Long time Lido Isle resident, Gene

W. Ross, Jr., passed away at home

surrounded by his family at the age of

77. The son of Ruth and Gene W. Ross,

Sr., Gene was born at the Hollywood

Hospital, Hollywood, CA, and grew

up in Westwood Village, attended

University Elementary School at UCLA,

Emerson Jr. High, University High

School and graduated from Occidental

College, where he belonged to Phi

Gamma Delta fraternity. During his

lengthy career with 3M Company, he

received many national awards for his

extraordinary innovation and salesmanship.

Always barefoot and wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a smile,

“Genobabe” will be fondly remembered for his love and joyful

energy. He constantly had great ideas brewing in his mind, one of

which resulted in his moving a house from one end of Lido to the

other – a feat not since repeated! His sense of humor, enthusiasm

and positive outlook were contagious to all who had the privilege

of crossing his path. He loved his numerous pets and old cars, but

most of all he loved “his girls”. He was a loyal husband, loving

father, doting grandfather, and good friend.

Gene will be greatly missed by all of his family. He is survived by

his cherished wife of 47 years, Carolyn; his three loving daughters

and their families, Susan Ross Peck and her husband Peter, and

grandchildren Gracie, Clair and Ross of Maui, HI and Newport

Beach; Betsy Ross Denham and husband Charles, and grandson

Charlie of Laguna Beach; and Cari Ross Andrews and husband

Scott, and grandson Matthew of Newport Beach; his sister Margaret

and brother-in-law John Roberts of Amherst, MA; his sister Betsy

McCormick of Fullerton, CA; and his nieces and nephews Judy

Roberts, David Roberts, Sandra McCormick Hill, Ross McCormick,

and The Reverend Tina McCormick. His dear mother died at the

age of 105 on the same day two years ago. Gene’s peaceful passing

was a perfect ending to a beautiful life.

A memorial service will be held at 11am on the 27th of December

at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Gifts in Gene’s memory may

be made to the Hoag Cancer Center, PO Box 6100, Newport Beach,

CA 92658.