The Rev. Vernon H. Ross, 92, pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church of Hamilton, NY, died on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at his home.
Mr. Ross was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada on April 29, 1925, a son of Gordon and Ethel Butcher Ross. He received a BA from the University of Western Ontario in 1946, an MA from the University of Wisconsin in 1947, and a BD from the Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1954. Vernon married Eleanor A. Longwell in 1953, a loving union of 61 years until she predeceased him in 2015.
After pastorates in Woonsocket, RI and Roselle, NJ, he came to the First Baptist Church in 1965 and retired in 1989. He was broadly ecumenical in outlook and noted for an innovative approach to youth ministry centered in a shack he purchased in the South Hamilton area. Thoroughly rehabbed, that shack became his retirement home for twenty years and the center for his Christmas tree business.
He is survived by three children, Gordon P. of Watertown, MA; Susan (Fred) Marki of La Canada, CA; Timothy A. (Anna) of Brooklyn, NY; six grandchildren; one brother, Leon (Jean) of London, Ontario, Canada; one sister, Betty Oliver of Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada; and several nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1pm Saturday, November 4, 2017 in the First Baptist Church, Hamilton, followed by a reception. There will be no viewing hours.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, 1100 S. Goodman St., Rochester, NY 14620.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 25 Broad St., Hamilton.
To send a condolence and sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com