~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, DL Capt. George R. Ross
December 1, 1922 ~ February 8, 2019
So much can be written.....but the bottom line is that we will
miss our friend Captain Ross. At the age of 96, Delta Golden Wings member
retired Delta pilot Captain George Randolph Ross was a walking history book of
life experiences. Born/raised in Ensley AL, USN ret in 1964, Captain Ross
joined Delta Air Lines 08-21-1951 and retired with Delta 12-01-1982, based ATL.
He was widowed in 2009 with the passing of his beloved wife Mary (obituary
below). Captain Ross is survived by their children and grandchildren plus many
other family members. Along the line he acquired us.... his many friends,
aviation colleagues, and email buddies. The best we can each do is remember
Captain Ross in our own special way and pass along a good deed in his memory.
Please click on at our memorial site ..... leave a story and share your memories.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
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From: Buck Stevens Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2019
Subject: Death of Delta Captain George Ross -
age 96
I received an email from a close friend of George’s
advising me that George died suddenly around 5:45am this past Friday, February
8th from a heart attack. He will be buried next to his wife Mary at The Georgia
National Cemetery in Canton, GA.
I had the pleasure of flying with George on the CV-880 and
DC-8 in 1970 and early 1971. George was not only a gifted pilot, but a
thoroughly professional one as well. Always the consummate southern gentlemen -
both the Flight Attendants and guys who flew with him loved and admired
him.
He lived in Dunwoody and when he retired he gave me some
brand new white uniform shirts he had purchased but never worn. After retirement
from Delta he never looked back, and went to work full-time in a print shop in
the little Dunwoody mall near the Post Office and loved what he did since he had
done some of that before the Navy and joining Delta. He certainly didn’t need to
work since he was receiving both a Navy and Delta pension (back when there was
no lump sum). He told me it kept his mind busy and he used all the money for
some great vacations with his wife who he fondly called Queen Mary.
George always maintained that love for flying and had
several model Delta aircraft and pictures as well in his assisted living home in
Birmingham. He had a full page ad from the AJC framed showing him in his uniform
carrying his flight bag along with some great narrative stating how professional
he was, how many Delta aircraft he had flown and how many total flight hours,
etc. It was a great ad for Delta and they ran it quite often in the seventies
saying basically come fly with us and all the professionals at Delta like
George.
George was an email buddy to a host of retired pilots and his
mind was extremely sharp along with his always present clever wit.
As soon as I have more details about his service, etc. I will
let you know.
-- Bucky Stevens
Feb. 13 update: just received the latest update from a very
close friend of George. ......................
There will be no service in Birmingham. George's son, Bob,
left this afternoon going to Atlanta to leave his dad's ashes
in Duluth, GA at the Head Funeral Home. There they will be
sent to Canton, GA (National Military Cemetery). This was all planned by George.
There is no obit. Bob mentioned that any service there would be at some future
time.
------------------------------
wife Mary’s obituary........ROSS, MARY "MIMIA" MAHALAS
STRITIKUS
Mary "Mimia" Mahalas Stritikus Ross, 85, passed away September
18, 2009. She was born in Wylam, AL, on October 28, 1923, to Condilo and
Gerasimo Mahalas, and was one of six children. Mary was married to Steve
Stritikus of Ensley, AL, until his passing in 1958, and, since 1974, has been a
devoted wife to George R. Ross of Alpharetta, GA.
Mary managed the Lane Bryant Shop in Birmingham, and retired
after 2 decades as a Special Agent with the Prudential Insurance Company in
Atlanta. She was a member of the Philoptochos women's organization of the Greek
Orthodox Church.
Mary is survived by numerous loving family members and
friends, including husband, George, daughter, Carol, son, Bob, and
grandchildren, Jesse, Greg, Lauren, and Robbie. A gathering in her honor will be
held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, as a tribute to Mary's ever generous and
nurturing spirit, donations can be made in her name to the Foster Children's
Foundation, P.O. Box 2469, Duluth, GA 30096, or AceraCare Hospice of Atlanta
(770-698-8785) or your local hospice.
Sweet Mary ~ Mom ~ Mimia
Bill Head Funeral Homes and Crematory Duluth Chapel
770-476-2535.
I was one of the owners of the little family owned Dunwoody print shop where George Ross worked after his retirement from Delta, mentioned in Bucky Stevens‘ tribute above. I’ll never forget the day, his wife Mary came in the shop, looked around and remarked what a busy place it was and that she was going to send her husband up there to get a job and get him out of her hair, with what we came to know as her special way of engaging with us. He did come in and joined our growing family business for many years. He was The hardest worker who would, on occasion, bring in little devices he’d created in his extensive home wood and machine shop to make the equipment we had more efficient or easier to operate. That little business became a home to several for many years as well as a stopping point for many who were working their way through school or just life in general and George, or Capt. Ross or just “Captain” as we often referred to him interchangeably, was always the steadying influence. He was the perfect example of how hard work and determination could be the keys to success, just as much as a birth of privilege. But for all he knew and all he had accomplished, he was the most humble and unassuming soul you could ever hope to know. He had many stories, but only shared them after much prodding. He wasn’t one to toot his horn much. Many former colleagues of his from Delta or the Navy were customers of the print shop and we always loved the interactions they shared visiting together for a few minutes when they came in for copies or printing. We were a family business in every sense, enjoying company outings to Braves games and holiday dinners together and George and Mary Ross were always a welcomed part of that family. I like to think we added as much to their lives as they did to ours, because we benefitted immeasurably from the years they shared with us. George was afforded great respect as you might expect by virtue of his quiet, steadfast ways. Leading by example and showing everyone who’s life he touched what made him part of The Greatest Generation. To say we loved him, would be an understatement. To say we miss him and Mary, even more so.
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