Albert Ward Ross, Jr.

1904-1979

On the centennial of his birth

Early years in Columbus

Albert Ward Ross, Jr., "Ward" or "Dad," was born on April 18, 1904, in Columbus, Ohio, the only child of Albert Ward and Lena Miller Ross [Reference: "The Descendents of William Ross," by Harriet Liljegen Ross, 1977, unpublished].

Lena and Albert c. 1900                                                      Ward, c. 1908

Ward and Grandmother Lizzie Miller c. 1910                    Ward c. 1913

Ward grew up in Columbus on Bryden Road. There was an orphanage across the street. He was active in Scouts. Although he reached only the rank of second class, he stayed with the troop throughout his high school years, joining in a bicycle trek from Columbus to Washington in 1921 to meet President Harding. He recounted how one boy had a scary downhill ride after breaking a chain--there were only coaster brakes in those days!

Ward c. 1916                                              Scout camp c. 1916

Washington, D.C., June 14, 1921, with President Harding. Ward is the tall one, second from left. The scoutmaster is Monte Beaver, in the "muscle shirt."

Albert and Lena, date unknown

Albert and Lena, date unknown

Ward attended East High School in Columbus (Get off the track for the orange and black!) Meanwhile, Edna Ruth Parker, "Eddie" or "Mom," born September 19, 1905, daughter of Don V. and Bessie Parker, was growing up in Ashtabula, Ohio. They were destined to meet at Ohio State University.

Ward, c.1920, H.S. picture                        Eddie, c.1922, H.S. picture

Ohio State

At OSU, Eddie was a journalism major and a member of the Phi Mu sorority. She was fond of reading, poetry, and crossword puzzles (a lifelong pastime). Ward majored in Civil Engineering, and joined the Chi Phi fraternity and track team, his specialty being the half-mile run (best time around 1:55).

Eddie, c. 1926 Graduation yearbook            Ward c. 1924-25

Ward first against Wesleyan, 880 yard run, 1:57.9, c. 1925-26

Throughout his life, as we shall see, Ward was interested in water, boats and fishing. Could Eddie have taken the following picture on one of their dates?

Ward, date unknown 

A fine engineer, Ward received a Master's Degree in 1926 for his thesis, "Wind Stresses in Tall Buildings." A paper was published by OSU in 1929, "The Design of Tall Buildings to Resist Wind," by Clyde T. Morris and A. Ward Ross, Jr., which prominently features "the Ross method." The research involved taking measurements during the construction of the American Insurance Union Building in Columbus, then analyzing the data to aid in the design of other buildings. He was very proud of solving 26 equations in 26 unknowns. He never got to build "his bridge," however.

Ward, date unknown             American Insurance Union Building 1926

Marriage and move to Michigan

Ward and Eddie were married on September 10, 1927. Shortly thereafter they moved to Dearborn, Michigan (and later Detroit), where Ward joined the Ford Motor Company. Their Dearborn friends included Muriel and John Wagner and Kay and Ralph Lonius. John was a lawyer and Michigan graduate, and also a fisherman, making for a long and friendly rivalry. Ralph, a men's clothing buyer for Hudson's Department Store, was always elegantly dressed. On the other hand, he was also proud of visiting faraway places before the advance of civilization ruined them. (Only much later pictures of these folks have been found and are shown toward the end of this document.)

Eddie, September 10, 1927                      Ward and Eddie, date unknown 

While at Ford, Ward worked on the design of the Ford Trimotor Airplane. At one point, he rode in the wing to take measurements. He once recounted an anecdote concerning the size of the aircraft. A colleague had calculated that one would never want a plane to carry more than 26 passengers. It was believed to be cheaper to send two planes than one larger one.

Ford Trimotor 

Charles Parker Ross, "Chuck," was born on September 22, 1930. Here, he is shown in a four-generation picture with Dad, Albert, and great grandmother Annie Ward Ross.

Chuck remembers being taken to see Jesse Owens run at Ohio State. He stumbled at the start but won going away.

David Ward Ross, "Dave" was born on August 11, 1937 ("Thanks for being a boy," according to Chuck).

By then, Dad had joined the Chrysler Corporation, where he was to spend the rest of his career, and the family moved to Asbury Park Road in Detroit. 

During this period, the family took regular summer vacations at East Twin Lake, near Lewiston, Michigan. Activities included fishing on East Twin and Spectacle Lakes, swimming, trips to town for ice and ice cream, and general relaxation (except for Mom, who did all the housework in a primitive cabin with no electricity, a kerosene stove, and hand-pumped water). Here is where Chuck and Dave began to learn about fishing. Chuck, at least, has kept up with this pastime. A kayak that Dad built from a kit was still in use decades later. Dave remembers it being re-lacquered many times, usually in OSU scarlet and gray, but once in Michigan maize and blue!

Ward and kayak, July 1937, one month before Dave was born

c. 1938, Ward, Dave, Edna and Chuck

East Twin Lake, near Lewiston, MI, 1939 

In the fall of 1938, the family began to build on Rosemont Road in Detroit, where the boys were to grow up and attend Edison Grade School and Redford High. There were few houses then, lots of open space, and woods that covered a couple of city blocks. A basketball goal was installed at the end of the road near our house.

14348 Rosemont, Detroit, under construction, winter 1938-39

Chuck and Dave c. 1940 

The war

On December 7, 1941, a newspaper with a large black headline appeared. Four-year-old Dave asked Chuck, "What does that say?" Chuck: "It says EXTRA." Dave: "What does that mean?"

During the war, Mom served as a volunteer truck driver. Chrysler had turned to aircraft production and Dad worked on the fuselage design of the B-26 bomber.

The Martin B-26 Marauder 

The family joined Bushnell Congregational Church on Southfield Road, less than a mile from home. This church and its Pastor, Dr. Roger Eddy Treat, were a rare find, and allowed Chuck and Dave to grow up with an open and positive attitude toward church and religion. Dad and Mom were active in a number of groups in this large church, even organizing bridge tournaments. Dad was active in a thespian group, the Bushnell Buskins, and starred as "Papa" in "I Remember Mama." He also played Peter in the Easter drama "Were you there?" Dave remembers Dad as the secretary of the Men's Club in later years.

Albert Ward Ross, Sr. died in an accident, falling down a flight of stairs, on April 15, 1943. Lena moved in with Ward and his family, a turning point in all their lives. Dave was rather pampered, as grandma spent a lot of time baby-sitting with him and generally picking up after him. They regularly spent New Year's Eve together. 

Dave learned one of his first lessons in race relations from Lena. We employed a young woman named Tommie to clean the house once a week. The employer was expected to provide lunch. Being from southern Ohio, grandma had never sat at table with a black person. She pondered whether to serve Tommie's lunch separately in such a small house. Common sense prevailed, and they regularly ate together, becoming good friends. Dave usually came home from school to eat with them.

Lena and Ward, mothers day 1942 

The postwar years

After the war, life returned to normal, and the family finally got a new Plymouth sedan. (Not getting a new car every year was always a sore point with Dave. Now, he keeps his cars for 10 years or more!)

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts became a major part of their lives. Envious Dave was impatient to join the scouts like the "big boys." There was regular ping-pong in the basement, where the scouts met as well. Chuck remembers kite contests. There was a huge orange box kite. Vic Cricchi, Jr. (more of his comments later) remembers it being "lofted to an immense height by a stiff breeze and then the string broke. It was way out there; we must have recovered it south of Schoolcraft."

Dad was a counselor for many merit badges, including hiking, angling, bird study (first Peterson guide) and athletics (high jump standards and 8-lb rock shot put). Also aeronautics, airplane design, and airplane structure. His interest kept Chuck and Dave working until they both reached the rank of Eagle. Chuck went with the Explorer Scouts on a number of canoe trips on the Au Sable and Manistee rivers (another point of envy for Dave). Dave did get to go on many campouts, including winter ones, and learned valuable lessons on taking care of himself.

Woodcarving became a hobby (Ben Hunt's Whittling Book). Dad was very good at it. Chuck never took it up, but Dave tried--Dad's response to a "finished" project: "It's coming, it's coming."

Dad always did many household jobs himself: shoe shining, grass cutting, minor repairs, etc., a habit that Dave picked up. Dad maintained bird feeders but always tried to discourage the squirrels and English sparrows. Once, while trying to destroy a sparrow nest, he burned the ivy on the chimney and took the TV antenna with it.

Chuck remembers driving lessons--Dad backed into car in driveway. Chuck matched this recently.

At Rosemont house, Easter 1948 

Golden Lake

Sometime around 1948, the Hesses (Arleigh, Ruth, and Sons Tom and Bruce) found a rustic resort run by the Kilbys near Golden Lake, Ontario. The Ross family began taking summer vacations there, instead of Lewiston, along with Hesses and Thompsons (Merle and Lois, sometimes daughter Janet), and later Fred and Iris Turrall. Fishing, swimming, sunning, and shopping were the order of the day. Now Eddy was relieved of much of the housework, as meals were served in the lodge, beginning with "bloated oaties" (our designation) and bacon and eggs in the morning. We Americans had sometimes not-so-tactful suggestions to improve Canadian cooking, such as adding milk to the mashed potatoes. On the other hand, Preston (?) Kilby taught us a better way to clean fish. Lena usually joined us on these trips.

In 1951, Chuck brought along his fiancée, Joyce Phillips. (They were married on June 7, 1952 and recently celebrated their 50^th anniversary.)

Besides fishing on Golden Lake itself, there were arduous hikes with the kayak up hill a half mile to Rattray's lake. In the evening, there were stories and songs around the campfire, and weekly square dances with live caller and fiddle.

Ward, Golden Lake c. 1948             Ward, Dave, Golden Lake c. 1948

Dave, Ward, Arleigh and Bruce Hess, c. 1948                 Lena at Golden Lake, c. 1950

Golden Lake, 1951; Chuck, Joyce, Lena, Eddie, Ward, Dave 

The 1950s

While Chuck was away at college, it was up to Dave and Dad to pick out Christmas trees, not always successfully. Dave remembers Chuck arriving home, suitcase in hand, saying, "Where'd you get that tree?"

Ward, Edna and Topper the bird (on Ward's shoulder), 1951

At home, Dad developed a routine of retiring to his chair with cigar and radio (later TV) --no after dinner conversation for him. Sometimes there were three sporting events on at once: OSU or Detroit Lions football, Tigers baseball, Red Wings hockey, and later Pistons basketball. He took black coffee and a glass of water--don't watch him taking pills! He also enjoyed cheddar cheese on apple pie, old-fashioneds made with Cutty Sark, walks for chocolate ice cream, or to Sanders with grandma for sodas (in the car).

Dad continued with Chrysler automotive body design, finally becoming head of purchasing for the design group (window in office door). Making thinner roof pillars was a big effort then.

Ward at Chrysler, c. 1953?

We received tickets to professional games from vendors selling to Chrysler: hockey at Olympia (Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsey), baseball (Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout, World Series 1945) and football (Bobby Layne, Les Bingamen) at Briggs Stadium (later Tiger Stadium). Dad often turned back these tickets, even before the big kickback scandal that ended the practice. Dad, of course, was not involved.

Potluck bridge parties took place monthly with best friends and neighbors Betty and Vic Cricchi, Ruth and Lou Poling, and Bob and Faye Harmount (who replaced an earlier couple, the McGeaths). See pictures below. Dave liked to sit unobtrusively and listen to the adult conversation.

In the summer, horseshoes was another popular pastime among the men, Dad, Vic, and Lou. Sometimes Hal Newhouser and Ed Cole took part. There was a carefully tended and watered clay pit--no sandy soil for them. The first player in the evening would ring the shoes to summon the others.

The 1960s and 70s

On June 14, 1959, Dave married Sara Elizabeth Schumacher. After this the folks could have some fun.

Dad and Mom continued to vacation at Golden Lake until the late 1970s. Dad got his own outboard motor sometime in the 60s.

Ward at Golden Lake, date unknown 

He was also an accomplished writer of doggerel or trivial verse. One collection was dedicated to Owen Fred Turrall, "on the occasion of his retirement--from work, not from fishing."

Iris and Fred Turrall, Golden Lake 1964; Ward and Fred, Golden Lake 1960 with a walleye

Potluck bridge

Only two pictures have been found of Lou Poling, taken at a potluck bridge party. He died not too many years later, possibly before the Lake Erie scene below.

Potluck 1960, Edna, Bob and Faye Harmount, Lou Poling, Betty Cricchi

Potluck 1960, Edna, Betty Cricchi, Faye Harmount, Ruth Poling, Vic Cricchi, Bob Harmount, Lou Poling 

More of friends and neighbors

Yes, it looks like they did have some fun!

Friends Lake Erie 1964, Ruth Poling,?, Vic & Betty Cricchi, Faye Harmount, Edna, Ward

Dearborn crowd, 1966; seated: ?,Muriel Wagner, Peg Bradbury,?,?, Lena; standing: John Wagner, Leigh Jackson, Edna 

Other good friends were the Haslers, parents of Walt, one of Chuck 's best friends.

1966: Ward and Edna with Frances and Howard Hasler

Grandchildren

Joyce and Chuck and Sara and Dave provided Dad and Mom with six grandchildren. Chuck's are Sheryl Joyce, David Charles, Daniel Philip, and Gary Ward. Dave's are Michael David and Andrew William.

Ward's grandchildren, Detroit, 1965: Sherry, David, Dan, Mike, Gary, and Andy

Detroit 1965, Sherry, Joyce, David, Edna, Dan, Sara, Mike, Gary, Andy, Lena 

Ward's retirement, May 2 1967

Dad retired at age 63 to give Lou Wiser the best chance at his job.

Ralph Lonius, Ward, Lou Wiser                               Ward and Lou

Ward and Lou                                               Ward and Lou 

After Dad's retirement, Mom and Dad enjoyed travel and visits from their kids, as well as continued vacations at Golden Lake. Dad remained active, walking regularly. Dave remembers accompanying Dad (age 70) on a four-mile walk to retrieve a watch from the repair shop. Dave could barely keep up.

Ward and Edna, Florida, 1967

Detroit Zoo: 1967, Dave, Mike, Ward, Andy

Detroit Zoo, 1967: Ward                    Dave, Mike, Ward, and Andy

Ward with Nita and Lou Wiser, 1968

Lena's 90^th birthday, 1968, with Ruth and Arleigh Hess, and Ward and Edna

Oak Ridge, 1973: Andy, Gary, Sara, Mike, Sherry, Joyce, Chuck, Dan, David C.
(missing, David W. who took the picture)

Edna and Ward, Oak Ridge 1973             Ward and Edna, Golden Lake, 1975

Golden Lake 1975: Merle Thompson, Ruth Hess, Ward, Lois Thompson, Edna, Arleigh Hess.
Boy in back unknown.

Golden Lake 1975: Merle Thompson, Ward, Edna, Ruth and Arleigh Hess

Golden Lake 1975: Merle Thompson, Ward, Arleigh and Ruth Hess.
A close look reveals bass, walleye, and pike on the stringer.

Dearborn Men: John Wagner, Leigh Jackson, Ralph Lonius, 1975

Fiftieth Anniversary, September 1977

The happy couple

Vic and Betty Cricchi, friends, neighbors, and partners in bridge and horseshoes

Ruth Poling, Bob and Fay Harmount, friends, neighbors, and partners in bridge and horseshoes 

Dad was lauded as a mentor and example. (See Vic Cricchi Jrs. comments appended.) Gary Ward Ross and Eric Ward Ross (Dan's son) carry his name. Eric has done a paper on Ward for school.

Dad died March 10, 1979 in Detroit, ostensibly of an aortic aneurism. (No doctor saw him immediately pre- or post-mortem.) Was he too stubborn to see the doctor in time about pain? Mom remained at 14348 Rosemont for another year or so before moving to a retirement home. She died on May 19, 1982.

Mom and Dad consulted osteopaths all their time in Detroit--good as far a they went, but did they do them in? Reland Evans, another good friend, told Chuck and Dave, "Get her away from that Doctor!"

Appendix: Letter from Captain Vic Cricchi Jr. (USN Ret) (Vic's son)

Dear Chuck,

The first thing I would say about A. Ward Ross is this: if you want to see the living embodiment of Ward look no further than his son Chuck. You look about the same, have the same voice and same demeanor--cool, calm, low-key, laconic and wry. Not exactly a carbon copy-- you're shorter, you runt.

Ward was long, lean and a former 880 runner at OSU. I was also long and lean and whenever I went alone to the Norwest theater I would fancy myself as Ward Ross in the 880 by running full-tilt the half mile back to my house. (I always broke his records, of course).

Ah, the clang of the horseshoes -- Ward was often the instigator -- which would instantly draw my dad and others for a game. I didn't watch very often -- horseshoes was not a prime spectator sport -- but those guys sure had a lot of fun. ( And don't forget to water the clay pits and cover them with burlap so they're always ready for play)!

Then there was that humungous box kite. I was there when it was lofted to an immense height by a stiff breeze and then the string broke. It was way out there; we must have recovered it south of Schoolcraft.

I remember Ward in the summer decked out in his shorts and moccasins (no socks). I wear the same thing because of that image.

If I had been a contemporary of Ward Ross we would have been real good buddies. He was my kind of guy.

Warm regards to all hands,

Vic