Ross Wilson Obituary

Ross Anderson Wilson Jr. passed away quietly with his family at his side on January 30, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Ross (never liked to be called Mr. Wilson) was born on February 22, 1920 in Gary Indiana. He was raised in Buffalo NY where he began a remarkable career. In his teen years, he attended military school in Hot Springs Arkansas and was fond of telling the story of seeing then president Roosevelt using the hot springs for therapy. Following high school, he went to work for Bell Aircraft in Buffalo and was part of a seven-man crew that developed the first Bell helicopter. During WWII, he worked for Bell traveling the country trouble shooting both fixed wing and helicopter problems. He was on the crew that put Chuck Yeager in the cockpit of the Bell X-1 that broke the sound barrier in 1947

An avid outdoorsman, in the mid-fifties he moved with his wife June and son Jack, to Tuckerton NJ where he was one of the founders of three marinas on the South Jersey shore. He also worked in both auto and real estate sales.

Ross retired in his mid-sixties and took up woodcarving. He received numerous best of show awards and received the Hurley Conklin Award in 2002.

He is survived by his son Jack; daughter-in-law, Kathy, and many great friends.

The family will be present at a reception in memory of Ross on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 from 6-8 pm at the Smith Center at Brandon Woods, 4730 Brandon Woods Terrace. Burial has already taken place.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses in Lawrence Kansas or the Lawrence Humane Society and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

For condolences and more information visit www.woodfuneralhomeinc.com or warrenmcelwain.com.