In memory of

Wesley Reid Ross

Dec 27, 1919
Sep 15, 2017

Obituary

Wes was born December 27, 1919 in Chehalis, Washington and graduated with honors in Electrical Engineering from Oregon State in 1943.

2nd LT Ross landed on Omaha Beach at dawn on 06 June 1944 and was the officer in charge of a 43 man Gap Assault Team; one of sixteen on Omaha who used hand-placed explosives to destroy the German wood and steel obstacles arrayed along “Easy Green Beach”. It was anything but easy! Wounded by mortar fire soon thereafter, he was hospitalized at Pontypridd, Wales where “How Green was my Valley”, starring Walter Pidgeon and Maureen O’Hara was filmed.

After fighting through France, Belgium, and Germany with the 146th Combat Engineer Battalion, he ended the war in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia. Significant awards include: ETO Service Medal with a bronze arrowhead for the D-Day mission; five bronze campaign stars for Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe; Purple Heart; Presidential Unit Citation; Distinguished Service Cross.

After returning from Europe, he made the best decision of his life when he married Dorothy Wickens of Tacoma; whom he had met in 1941 at a Rainbow Girls Dance at Ft. Lewis. Dorothy was a great wife and a fantastic mother to her three children; Terrill Ann Ross – a widow of Salem, Arthur Gregory Ross of Bend, and Kathleen Jane Flath – his lovely youngest daughter, who preceded him in death in 2003 after a seven year bout with stomach cancer. Additionally there are seven grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

Wes worked as a sales engineer for General Electric X-ray Co., Wester X-ray Co. and Picker International from 1946 until his retirement in 1986. From 1951 until 1959, in addition to his sales territory in Western Washington, he covered the Territory of Alaska. In 1955, he designed and supervised construction of two bush-airplane transportable X-ray systems for the Alaska Native Service to use in the remote area of the territory in tuberculosis control; a particularly vicious scourge for the natives.

A World Class Interventional Angiographic Laboratory System was sold, designed, and built- in that order- under his direction for the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland in 1969/71 which is now Oregon Health Sciences University. It was used with superb results for fifteen years before being replaced by a more modern system.

He remained in the Active Army Reserve after WWII, where he was in charge of the Rifle Marksmanship Team from 1954-1970. He won the Reserve High Power Rifle Championship at the 1963 National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio when three men from the regular military services, and he-in a field of 2,202-bested the existing national open record set the previous year. That same year he became a member of the prestigious “President’s Hundred”. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Active Army Reserve in 1970.

Wes attempted to respectfully listen to all aspects of contentious issues, and tried to be a facilitator. His fervent hope was to have the good sense to direct his efforts so that those when knew him well could honestly say “although he may have done a bit more in furthering the well-being of his countrymen and of his great country, he gave it a good shot!”

Please friends, do not grieve for me. My life has been a wonderful roller coaster, with many great times, and only a few bumps along the way. My life’s crowning achievement was marrying Dorothy who came from the great and loving Wickens family- the apple does not fall far from the tree! Because of her loving care, our children were always considerate of others.

If so desired, contribution in his behalf may be made to:
Citizens against Government Waste – CAGW
Mothers Against Drunk Driving – MADD
The Salvation Army
Your call

Service Information

Memorial Service
Sunday October 1, 2017 @ 2pm
Southern Hills Assisted Living
4795 Skyline Rd S, Salem, OR 97306

Interment with Military Honors
Friday October 27, 2017 @ 1pm
Willamette National Cemetery
11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Portland, OR 97086

Gallery

Messages of Sympathy

  1. Lenka Setikovska, Pilsen, Czech Repulic (formerly Czechoslovakia) says:

    Thank you for liberation my birthplace Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, in 1945 and for your friendship. We never forget.

  2. A. Brother says:

    A true American Hero that deserves three volleys of seven! No greater respect for any man than that which was held for Wes. He was a fair and honest man that knew the truth even when it wasn’t being told. Til we meet again on Fiddlers Green! Hooah!

  3. Al Hessel says:

    I met Wes at Tri County Gun Club where he planned and built many shooting facilities. It was an honor to work with him over the years.

  4. Kristina Marie says:

    Quietly he cared for and watched over our family. Always humble about his heroic efforts and achievements, he was a true gentleman. His love for my grandma and his family was steadfast and never waivered. Strong, silent, and yet still silly with his grandkids, his "gorgeous blondes" as he called me and my sister. I couldn't ask for a better grandfather and role model. I love you, Poppy. And not just because I have to. ❤️ Give Grandma and Mom a hug for me.

  5. Vicki Fraser says:

    Wes was a true American gentleman and he and Dorothy were two of the finest people I have ever met. We are honored to have their precious Allison in our family. Thank you Sir for your life of service to others. ❤️

  6. Bob Flath. says:

    A wonderful father in law and one great man.

  7. Johnson Funeral Home Staff says:

    We are indebted to men like Wes who epitomizes the "Greatest Generation". It is truly a high honor to serve one of our country's heros. Thank you for trusting Johnson Funeral Home.

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