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Joseph OROS Obituary
OROS Jr., Joseph
Joseph Oros, Jr., influential automotive designer of Ford Motor Company, died August 2, 2012. He was 96.
Mr. Joseph Oros graduated from Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), Cleveland, Ohio In 1939. He studied with Victor Schrekengost at CIA and was awarded the prestigious Agnes Gund Traveling Fellowship Scholarship upon graduation. He became a student of General Motors School of Automotive Design, where he worked under the guidance of Harley Earl. Later, Mr. Oros Joined Mr. George Walker's Industrial design firm designing Nash automobiles. In 1947. when Walker's firm won a contract with Ford Motor Company, Mr. Oros and Mr. Walker worked on the design of the 1949 Ford.
In 1955, Mr. Joseph Oros formally joined Ford Motor Company, where his work focused an the designs for Ford's cars and trucks. Mr. Oros rose to the position of Director of Exterior Design for Ford Motor Company. In 1958, Joseph Oros did the primary design for the Ford Thunderbird, which was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year. Most notable, Mr. Oros was recognized for his design contributions for the 1964 Ford Mustang. He was a proud member of the Mustang Hall of Fame.
In 1968, Mr. Oros was transferred to Ford of Europe and was elected Vice President of Design. In 1974, he returned to the United States as Executive Director, Ford and Lincoln Mercury Design. He retired in 1975 and lived in Santa Barbara, CA until 2011.
In 1941, Joseph Oros married Elizabeth Anna Thatcher who he met at Cleveland institute of the Arts. Elizabeth (Thatcher) Oros Is believed to be the first full-time, female automotive designer (Hudson Motors) in the United States. Together, they raised a family of five children in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Mr. Joseph Oros was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Oros sr. and Juliana (Santauan) Oros, sister, Lucretia Morosan, and son, Joseph Oros III. He is survived by his children, Christina Blum of Palmetto, GA, Janet Wiese of Roseville, CA, Mary Oros of Benicia, CA, John Oros of Bayfield, CO, five grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren.
A private, family service will be held at Highland Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.
Arrangements by Chapel Of The Valley www.chapelofthevalley.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph OROS
2 Entries
Mary Jean Wesche
October 11, 2012
Mr. Oros and his contribution to the Mustang legacy will always be so important to all the members of the Mustang Club of America. We express our deepest sympathy to the family. May he rest in peace. Editor-Mustang Times
John Clor
October 3, 2012
Joe will always remain a hero in the Mustang enthusiast community, with his contribution to Ford living on as long as the automobile. I mentioned him proudly in my book, "Mustang Dynasty," and consider him to be among the top 10 most influential people in the Mustang hobby. May he rest in peace!
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