Cork Ross
Funeral services for Cork Ross, age 85, of Clinton will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at Peace Lutheran Church, Bessie.
Ross passed away at his home surrounded by his loved ones on Friday afternoon, January 29, 2016. He was born on October 28, 1930 the son of Howard Leon and Dorothy (Swank-Ross) Reed.
He grew up in Clinton where he graduated from Clinton High School in 1948. At age 14 he started working for Watson Electric learning the electric motor business. Upon graduation he continued working for Watson.
He enlisted in the National Guard in 1947 and his enlistment would ordinarily have been up after 3 years but all tours of duty were extended for 1 year after the Korean War started and he served his country over there. He was in the 45th Division of the Thunderbird Outfit. He was honorably discharged in 1951.
He returned to Clinton and continued working for Watson Electric and married his high school sweetheart Rosa Reinschmiedt on November 11, 1951 at Peace Lutheran Church, Bessie.
Together they started Ross Electric Co. in 1959 which he owned and repaired electric motors until his retirement in June 2007. Rosa preceded him in death on January 17, 1984 after 32 years of marriage.
Ross was an outdoorsman where he was an avid fisherman and hunter. He grew up on the Washita River and raised his two children there as well. He also enjoyed trap shooting and some golf.
Ross had been a Volunteer Firefighter for the Clinton Fire Department for 20 years and had retired in 1988.
He loved square dancing with Rosa and later with Eva Lee Stewart and had been a member of the Hub City Squares. He was a member of the Clinton Evening Lions Club serving in many offices including President until the chapter dissolved. He was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church for over 65 years and had served on the church council. But his family was his pride and joy. He loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren more than life itself. He set an example for his family to treasure for many years to come.
Ross never met a stranger and always had a twinkle in his brown eyes, a contagious smile and a terrific sense of humor which was loved by all.
On November 8, 1985 he started dating Eva Lee Stewart and they had just celebrated their 30th year together. They loved traveling, square dancing, family functions and spending time together. His family became her family and her family became his. They went to all family gatherings together.
Ross was preceded in death by his loving wife Rosa, his parents, her parents William “Bill” & Pauline (Wohl) Reinschmiedt, his brother and his wife Clair L. and Clara Marie (Reinschmiedt) Ross, brothers and sisters in laws John and Lillian Reinschmiedt, Ruben Reinschmiedt, Vera (Reinschmiedt) and Paul Dick, Edna (Reinschmiedt) and Don Howard. He also was preceded in death by a nephew Mike Howard and a daughter in law Lynda Kaye (Anderson) Ross.
Survivors include his daughter Marsha Denise (Ross) Moore and her husband Charlie of Clinton and his son Mark Roland Ross and his wife Macey of Allen, TX. Grandchildren, Trista Dawn & Brian Sperle of Clinton, Ty Roland and Casey Ross of Wolfforth, TX, Charles Joseph “Joey” & Meagan Moore of Arapaho, Caleb Ross and Mindy Moore of Clinton. Great grandchildren, Cooper Reed, Hardy Ross and Marlee Janel Sperle, Kyle Dillon, Hayden Roland and Taylor Kaye Ross, Rylan Ross, Rance Maryc, and Revlynn Rose Moore, Tinley Grace and Dustin Ross Moore. Sisters and Brothers in laws, Gladys (Reinschmiedt) & Dwayne Pankratz of Cordell, Lillian (Reinschmiedt) and John Neuman of Northridge, CA, Juanita Reinschmiedt of Clinton and Ynez Reinschmiedt of Los Angeles, California, numerous nieces and nephews and many many friends.
Ross is also survived by Eva Lee Stewart and her children Ramona Hines, Lloyd and Jeanette Stewart, Mark and Camille Stewart all of Clinton. Grandchildren Ross and April Hines of Providence Village, TX, Stewart and Kelsey Hines, Weatherford, OK, Karetha (Stewart) and Barry Bruns of Stillwater and Corey and Janelle Stewart of San Antonio, TX. Great Grandchildren Kaybree, Hudson and Creede Hines, Caitlyn and Jiselle Stewart.
Burial will take place at the Peace Lutheran Cemetery, Bessie under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home of Clinton, OK.
Memorials made be made to the Peace Lutheran Church Memorial Pavilion, P.O. Box 33, Bessie, OK 73622.