Joe E. Ross Jr.

JOE E. ROSS, JR., beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away surrounded by his loved ones on January 17, 2008. Joe was born in Shreveport, LA, in 1928 and after graduating from Fair Park High School, entered the U.S. Army serving a tour in Japan. After discharge from the Army, he enrolled at Louisiana Tech, graduating with a B.S. degree in 1952. While attending Tech, he played varsity football for four years and also received the honor of selection to "Who's Who in American Colleges." Also at Tech, he met his future wife, Angie. Joe began his career with United Gas Pipeline in Shreveport, LA, in 1952. The company was transferred to Houston in 1973 and after serving in various capacities over the course of 39 years of service, Joe retired in 1991. Joe was an avid golfer and even though he had not been able to play in a number of years due to poor health, he never lost his passion for the game. He was quite a golfer in his earlier years and won numerous trophies. He was also fortunate to have shot not just one hole-in-one, but two. Joe felt his greatest achievement was his family. His pride and joy was his wife, two children, and three grandchildren. He is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, Angie; daughter, Lisa Wainwright and husband, Dr. Monte Wainwright of Cypress, TX; son, Dr. Greg Ross and wife, Valerie Ross of Clearwater, FL; and grandchildren, Hannah and Cole Wainwright and Sam Ross. He is also survived by two sisters, Ann Taylor and Jeanette Mills and husband, Ronnie; brothers, Jerry Ross and wife, Joanne, Ronnie Ross and wife Manda; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition, he is survived by two brothers-in-law, Charles and Jimmie Williams who were like brothers to him along with their wives, Pat and Peggy, who were diligent in their concern for his health. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Francis Ross. Thanks go to the doctors, nurses, and PCAs on the transplant floor at St. Luke's who cared for him many times over the years after his kidney transplant. They always treated him with love and compassion. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation for research that will, hopefully, someday, benefit his grandson, Sam. Memorial donations should be addressed to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 2425 Fountainview Dr., Ste. 280, Houston, TX 77057, in memory of Joe. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at John Wesley United Methodist Church, 5830 Bermuda Dunes Drive, Houston, TX 77069.