Gordon Willard Gross, widower of Violet Andriola Gross, passed away on January 28, 2013 at the home of his son. He was born in Croydon, NH Jan. 24, 1919, son of the late Dana Stevens Gross and Susan Dunbar Gross. Gordon was a resident of Waterford, CT until 2011 and most recently Windsor, CT. He was raised on his family's small farm in Croydon and left there for the US Army in 1941. He served in World War II with the Battery C 11th Coastal Artillery at Ft. Wright NY and the Korean Conflict with the 9th Field Artillery Battalion in Korea and received his Honorable Discharge in 1955 with the rank of 2nd Lt. He was invited to serve as an advisor during the early years of the Vietnam conflict. He was employed at Robertson Paper Box and then Pfizer's until his final retirement at the age of 81. His work ethic was recognized at both places and was passed on to his children. He was an avid skier. UCONN men's and women's basketball were a passion for him. Our mother would say he was the best husband a woman could have. He did not smoke. He did not drink. He did not womanize. He brought his paycheck home every Friday. But most of all he was her friend. Their love and marriage lasted 66 years before she passed. He missed her till the day he died and looked forward to being with her again. He is survived by and will be dearly missed by his children, Gordon D. Gross of Windsor, Linda J. Little of Fernandina Beach, FL, and Alan W. Gross of Watertown; two granddaughters, Kristin Cryder and Erin Cutshaw and her husband Mark, of Fernandina Beach, FL.; great-grandchildren, Addison, Amelia, and Ansley Cutshaw and Timothy Cryder all of Fernandina Beach, FL. He also leaves behind two sisters-in-law Rita Gross and Anna Perrone, his nieces and nephews: Betty and Donal Ballou, Richard and Joan Gross, Carol Sue ,Clyde, Katie and Adam Marsh, all of New Hampshire, Joanne and Butch Rand, Tom Perrone and Janis Rousseau, of Connecticut, Marcia and Michael Andriola, of Georgia, Steven Harms, of Pennsylvania ,Vickie and Stefan Constantinedes, of CA. He also leaves behind great-nephews and great- nieces. The Gross family would like to thank Christina and Peggy with Hebrew Home Hospice and the Home Companions Andy and Freddie.
There are no calling hours. A Military service will be at graveside at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Broad Street New London on Friday Feb. 1, 2013 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Prostate Cancer Foundation, 1250 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 or to Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to www.neilanfuneralhome.com.

Published in the Hartford Courant on Jan 31, 2013