Ronald Eugene (Ron) Gross

GROSS, Ronald Eugene (Ron)

Age 85, of Arcanum, Ohio, passed away peacefully at Miami Valley Hospital, surrounded by loved ones on Thursday, February 24th, 2022 following a brief illness. Ron was born to Ferd and Vesta (Burden) Gross on October 14, 1936 in Geyer, Ohio. The family relocated to Cygnet and then to Wapakoneta, where Ron attended school, was active in the Boy Scouts, and participated in science and math clubs and competitions. In the summers, Ron worked with his father and grandfather at Gross Lumber Company in Wapakoneta. After graduating from high school, Ron attended Purdue University and majored in Electrical Engineering. One of his favorite stories was about a ride home to Wapak one wintry weekend with fellow Boilermaker Neil Armstrong, which Ron said made it clear that with that kind of driving, Neil was destined to become an astronaut. After graduating from Purdue in 1958, Ron moved to Arlington, Virginia to begin work with American Electronics Laboratories. Arlington is where Ron met the love of his life, Georgia Bumgarner, who he married on September 3rd, 1960. Ron’s engineering career included early work with computers and the creation of a groundbreaking medical device designed for blood analysis. After starting their family in Springfield, Virginia, Ron and Georgia purchased property outside Arcanum, built a home, and relocated the family there in 1977. Ron worked for Dayton Scientific at Wright Patterson AFB for many years before retiring to spend time pursuing interests and activities that included: volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and Shawnee Prairie, blacksmithing, finding deals at garage sales, singing with the Village Singers, playing badminton and dartball, and participating in Senior Olympics where he and his wife both won first place in shuffleboard for their age group.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents Ferd and Vesta (Burden) Gross, an infant brother George Nathan Gross, brother-in-law Bob Rotroff, and a niece, Krystal Volick. Ron is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Georgia (Bumgarner) Gross, daughter Pat (Alan), sons Tom (Barbara), John (Stephanie), grandchildren Preston (Kasey), Madison (Cameron), and Tori, sisters Mary Rotroff of Wapakoneta and Karen Klopfenstein (Marvin) of Henry, Tennessee. Ron had several nieces and nephews of whom he was quite proud and he enjoyed receiving updates on them and their children.

Funeral services will be held 12:00 pm Tue. March 1 at the Kreitzer Funeral Home, 204 N. Main St. Arcanum, OH 45304, with burial to follow in Castine Cemetery. Visitation will be held 11:00 am Tuesday until service time. If desired, donations may be made to Shawnee Prairie, 4267 St. Rt. 502W Greenville, OH 45331.

 E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.kreitzerfuneralhome.com