Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Mr. Charles Arthur “Charlie” Ross, 82, of Mt. Hope, WV went home to be with the Lord on Friday, July 12, 2019 at Cornerstone Hospital in Huntington, WV. Born April 5, 1937 in Mt. Hope, he was the oldest son of Arthur C. and Willie K. Fleming Ross.

Charlie was educated in the Fayette County Schools, graduating from DuBois High School in May 1956. While at DuBois, Charlie was an avid football player, coached by his uncle George Kenneth Scott. On Memorial Day of 1956, he was inducted into the U. S. Air Force and completed his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He was deployed to Europe and served four years. Upon being discharged from service he settled in Springfield, Massachusetts where he met and married Idlean Lomax.

Charlie left Massachusetts and moved to New York City in 1966. After several odd jobs he landed the job he aspired to be and became a Boiler Maintenance “Super”. He had landed the job of a lifetime. He worked for more than 27 years at PS3 in Brooklyn, NY. Retiring in 2000, he returned to Mt. Hope.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Vinny; and brother, George “Rusty” Vernon.

Those left to cherish precious memories are his devoted companion/friend of 30 years, Portia Gray; two sons, Charles A. Ross, Jr., of Springfield, MA; Charles Lamont (Tracey) Edwards of Queens, NY; two daughters, L’Tanya Ross of Florida; and Evelyn Ross of Springfield, MA; two adopted daughters, Chloee Shabazz of Brooklyn, NY and Michelle Williams of Charlotte, NC; stepchildren, Cameron Gray, Precious Gray and Shemar Gray of Mt. Hope, WV; sister Laura (Warren) Pitts of Baltimore, MD; two brothers, James (Diane) Ross of Charles Town, WV and Andre (Mary) Ross of Urbana, IL; five grandchildren, Shaquawn Ross, Crystal Ross, Brittany Ross, Amari Edwards and Ayana Edwards. He is also survived by his aunt, Addie Brown; special cousins, Howard “Red” Scott and Benny “Corky” Brown as well as a host of nephews, nieces, other cousins, relatives and friends.

Funeral service will be 12:00PM Saturday July 20, 2019 at United Missionary Baptist Church 205 S. Fayette Ave. Mount Hope with Rev. Matthew J. "Mattie" Watts officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Park, Beckley.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at the church.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.