Stanley Peter Ross

Holly Lake Ranch will bid goodbye to one of its giants Sunday, November 9.

Funeral services for Stan Ross will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. at Holly Tree Chapel with Pastor Paul Myers officiating.

Burial will follow in Holly Tree Cemetery under the direction of Beaty Funeral Home of Hawkins.

Stanley Peter (Roszkowicz) Ross was born August 1, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Polish immigrants. He was one of seven brothers and sisters. He died peacefully at his Holly Lake home at 1 a.m. Saturday, November 1, following a long illness.

He was a member of Holly Tree Chapel and had served on its governing board. He taught Sunday school and served on the board of every church he attended, according to family members.

Ross left his mark on the Holly Lake community by serving two different stints on the Ranch's B-Board of Directors. The first term was 1992-93 and the second from 2000 to 2005. It was during his second span in office that Holly Lake realized some of its greatest growth and progress.

Ross was a favorite of Ranch employees. They will be represented by Rob James, general manager of Holly Lake Ranch Association, who will present the eulogy.

Ross contributed directly to and supported a wide range of Ranch steps forward, some of which he personally initiated. Included in the list of accomplishments under his and fellow board members' guidance are:

Shifting of handling of Holly Lake funds from Silverleaf to local control; the building of Holly Hall, Holly House, pavilion, pool room, fitness center (a pet project), new pool and bathhouse on west side, jogging/walking path, new golf pro shop, Fore Seasons Restaurant; refurbishing of Section 3 pool; rebuilt driving range and fairway and green on hole 10; installed tennis court lights, camera security on tennis courts, new irrigation system for golf course, new radar system for security, new gate security system, new gates in three sections; purchased numerous pieces of maintenance equipment and vehicles; resurfaced golf greens; repaired golf cart paths; implemented annual road and drainage projects; and instituted $2500 amenity fee for new property owners.

An outstanding high school and college athlete, Ross graduated from Miami (Ohio) University with a degree in industrial engineering. He was lured to Miami by legendary professional football hall of fame member Sid Gillman, who was Miami's football coach at the time. Ross excelled at other sports such as running, wrestling and boxing. He was the Ohio light-heavyweight Golden Gloves champion during his collegiate days.

Attending Miami on the G.I. bill after seeing combat duty with the U.S. Army in Italy during World War II, Ross washed dishes at Western College for Women to supplement his income. It was there he met Marilyn Johnson, who became his bride in 1951 upon her graduation.

Ross began his professional career with Singer Sewing Machine in Cleveland and retired from Bell Helicopter in Hurst in 1990. In between, he worked for Ford Motor Company in Cleveland, LTV in Grand Prairie, Spar Aerospace in Toronto, Canada, as well has heading several private business ventures. He relocated to Holly Lake in 1990 after five years of weekend visits.

His hobbies of running, golfing, softball, woodworking, furniture refinishing, horses and Labrador retrievers continued until shortly before his death.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Marilyn Ross, Holly Lake; son and daughter-in-law, Dale and Lynell Ross, Houston; daughters and sons-in-law, Beverly and Mike Penkert, Hurst, and Franny and Tim Williams, Idaho; sister, Sophie Horvath, Ohio; grandsons, Cory Ross, U.S. Marine Corps, Caleb Penkert, Hurst, and J.T. and Wyatt Williams, Idaho; granddaughters Shannon Jex and husband Zach, Mississippi, Katie Penkert, Hurst, and Darby Williams, Idaho; niece, Carol Bononis, Michigan; and his beloved black Lab, Holly.

Pallbearers will be Curtis Allen, Jim Armstrong, Billy Coyle, Bob Edmondson, Rob James, Gerry Meek, Cory Ross, Jerry Ryan and Rick Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701.