Tony Ross

Tony Ross
April 25, 1940 - April 26, 2023
Tony Claiborne Ross was born April 25, 1940, at Methodist Hospital in Dallas, Texas to Claude Peter and Mary Ruth Ross. Tony went home to be with the Lord on April 26, 2023. He is preceded in death by both of his parents, his older brother Mike Ross, and his son Randy Ross.
Tony was a sheet metal worker by trade, building elevator cabs and handrails. As a lifelong Oak Cliff resident, Tony attended John H. Reagan elementary school and graduated from W.H. Adamson in 1959. Tony was always active. He worked on and rode bikes off and on for many years. He swam and fished at Kidd Springs. He played softball, basketball, and jogged. He worked on the house and yard in his later years, until his health no longer permitted. He was a lifelong learner. He loved music. He taught himself to play guitar, keyboard, and harmonica. He was always learning to play new songs. He challenged himself to learn Spanish, grow veggies, and put a convertible top on an old car.
Following a stroke he suffered in 2018, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. His favorite preacher was Dr. Charles Stanley. Tony suffered from lifelong anxiety. He spent time learning many Bible verses. His favorite verse that he memorized and prayed was Philippians 4:6-7 – "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Another favorite verse of his was 2 Timothy 1:7 – "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and self-control." He loved Psalm 23 and prayed it to soothe his soul. Tony often talked about going to Church with his granddaddy Claiborne, after whom he is named. He loved the old church hymns. He loved "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "In the Garden." His Granddaddy on his mother's side was an elder, sometimes Tony would go with him when he cleaned the church. He was very close to his other grandfather Pa that lived in a cottage out back. He spent a lot of time with him. He would make Tony peanut butter sandwiches. Tony loved percolated coffee. His mom and dad started drinking instant coffee, which Tony did not like at all. Pa still drank percolated coffee so Tony could always go out there and get the coffee the way he liked it. The older men in the neighborhood would teach Tony how to build and work on stuff, which is what really turned him into a handyman. They would loan him tools, he still had some of his daddy's tools. The ladies in the neighborhood loved him, as well. They would make homemade cake and icing and call him over to have a piece. If his mom came outside to get on him, the ladies would run out and take up for him. He and his brother worked from a young age, collecting coat hangers to sell them to cleaners. He worked several other jobs, including a parking lot behind the Texas Theater, a gas station, and at a grocery store.
Tony met his wife, Leona, in 1980. They were married in 1986. Tony is survived by his wife Leona, daughter Sherry Perry, son David Ross, stepdaughter Chelsea Clay, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Tony's Homegoing memorial service will be held at First Baptist Dallas, 1707 San Jacinto St., Dallas, TX 75201 on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 2pm. The family kindly asks in lieu of sending flowers to the church, to please consider making a donation in Tony's honor to the American Heart Association.