Alfred T. Gross
WARSAW- Alfred Thomas Gross, 79, died Sunday, November 20, 2016 at The Ganzhorn Suites in Powell.
Born Jan. 20, 1937 in Tiverton Township to the late Ira Truman and Ana Earla (Chapman) Gross, Alfred was the youngest–by a few minutes–of seven. A 1955 graduate of Warsaw High School, he married his high school sweetheart Beverly Elaine (Reiss) Gross on May 20, 1956. She preceded him in death on July 17, 2016 after 60 years of wedded bliss. Alfred served in the United States Army from 1958-1960, and the Reserves until 1964. He worked briefly at Big Bear and Pretty Products before ultimately landing a job at Universal Cyclops/AK Steel, from which he retired as an electrician after 30 years. He was a member of the Warsaw First Presbyterian Church and the Warsaw Lions Club. Al was a consummate handyman who could fix or build nearly anything, including the family’s house. He loved to invent handy gadgets, do woodwork and metal work, tinker with motors, read history books and dote on his wife, family and his cat, Outtie. Al loved to travel and was fearless in his willingness and ability to drag wife and kids off on annual weeks-long camping trips across the United States. He was particularly skilled at hoaxing his unsuspecting family members with gifts or surprises, and he loved to share a laugh. He could also strike up an engaging conversation with anyone, anywhere, anytime. Al’s friendliness and great storytelling skills will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by two daughters, Kristine (Fred) Gross-Squillante of Gahanna, and Gayla (David) Gray of Perrysburg, NY; a son, Thomas (Lori) Gross of Wyoming, OH; seven grandchildren, Duncan and Nathan Squillante, Robert and Julia Gray, and Madeline, Rudy, and Caleb Gross ; a brother, Fred (Joyce) Gross of Worthington; two sisters-in-law, Alice Gross and Juanita Reiss, both of Coshocton; a brother-in-law, Tom (Sharon) Crews of Springfield; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews (many who knew him as Uncle Bub), cousins, many friends and his church family.
Al’s family would like to extend a special thanks to his great-niece, Melanie Fee Stacy, and the staff at The Ganzhorn Suites, for all their loving care and compassion.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his twin sister, Flora Jane Crews; four brothers, Ira C., Roy, Earl, and Frank Gross, two brothers-in-law, Philip and Robert Reiss; and two sisters-in-law, Oma and Louise Gross.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016 at the Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw, with Rev. Christena Lutz officiating. Burial will follow in Valley View Cemetery, with graveside military rites performed by the Coshocton County Joint Veterans Council Honor Guard. Calling hours are from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25th at the funeral home. www.fischerfuneralhome.com
Memorial donations may be made to the Warsaw First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 166 Warsaw, OH 43844.
Category: Obituaries
