Donald LeRoy Ross, 85, lifetime Aberdeen resident and former school bus driver, passed away Monday, June 13, 2022, at Harbor Regional Health in Aberdeen, Washington.

Don was born on June 11, 1937, in Hoquiam, Washington to Orville William and Josephine (Nichols) Ross. He attended Aberdeen schools.

He went to work for Holsom Bakery, Barnhart’s Bakery, The Aberdeen Theatre and worked as a bellhop at the Washington Hotel. He joined the Air Force in July of 1953 and worked on aircraft flight and auto systems. He visited over 30 countries during his 10 years in the Air Force. He was honorably discharged in 1962 and returned to Aberdeen.

Don married Gean Teresa Moyer on Sept. 20, 1955, at Gean’s parents’ home in Aberdeen. She resides at the family home.

He then went to work for Star Furniture, then Weyerhaeuser and Mayr Bros planting trees. He then was an electrician at Grays Harbor Chair and then went to work for Rayonier doing clean up, then in the finishing department and later the Blow Gang for 28.5 years. Following that he made cedar plant boxes and then went to work at Mary K. Knight School as a para-professional. He then drove school bus for Aberdeen and Hoquiam school districts.

In his free time, Don was a referee and umpired in basketball, baseball and volleyball. He was a Deacon and Elder at First Presbyterian Church of Aberdeen, member of the Rain and Shine Jazz Society and helped out at Chamber functions.

Don is survived by his wife of 66 years, Gean in Aberdeen; a son, Mark (Judith) Ross of Portland, Oregon; a daughter, Cherrie (Lee) Anaya of Milwaukie, Oregon; a brother, Richard Ross of Walla Walla, Washington; a sister Shirley Middleton of Aberdeen; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Don was preceded in death by a son Jim Ross in 1995, a grandson, Shawn Beaty and a half-sister, Betty Hanson

There will be a celebration of his life on Saturday, June 25, at 1 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen. Inurnment will take place at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, with military honors at a later date.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.