Tommy Wayne Ross, age 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many, went to be with his Lord and Savior, June 18, 2020.
Tommy Ross was born to Argil Lee Ross and Suda Adaline Ross on December 4, 1930, in Sardis, Tennessee. He graduated from Saltillo High School and attended Draughon’s Business College in Nashville. While in college, he worked as a typist at Cook Truck Lines, later to become Viking Freight. He only veered from trucking for a two-year stint in the Marine Corps in the 1950’s and to help operate Ross Appliance, the store he and his older brother, Paul, purchased in the 1960’s. From his evening job as a Cook Truck Lines bill clerk, he went on to handle claims, work in sales, manage terminals, help shepherd Viking through labor strife in the 1960’s and finally founded his own company, Milan Express, in 1969. With only one tractor and two trailers, Milan Express grew into a nationwide entity.
Tommy was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church where he belonged to the Forum Sunday School class, Methodist Men and was on numerous church committees. He was a founding member of The Bank of Milan where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for many years. In 1974, Tommy was selected as Milan’s Man of the Year. He received the Pinnacle Award, the highest honor of the Tennessee Trucking Association, for his lifetime commitment to his company and industry in 2011. He was a proud member of the Milan Lions Club. Tommy was a past member of the board of directors of the Tennessee Trucking Association and past member of the following boards: Milan School Board, YMCA board, Oakwood Cemetery Association and Milan Hospital Board.
Tommy would often tell his children the most important things in life were God, Family, Country and Company and in that order. He not only told them this, he lived it. He always put God first and tried to help anyone he could without any recognition. His wife, Thelma, was the love of his life for 64 years and he cherished her and their children. He loved his country and was proud to be an American. He also loved his employees like they were family. After 45 years of realizing his dream, he hung up his cap in 2014 with the sale of his beloved company. His remaining years were spent at home. Although he suffered with dementia during this time, his sweet and gentle nature could not be taken away. On June 18, 2020, after a brief battle with pneumonia, he left his earthly home for his eternal one.
He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife, Thelma; brother, Paul Ross and sister-in-law, Evelyn Ross of Milan, TN; brother-in-law, Al Rome of Memphis, TN and nephew, Bobby Ross of Milan, TN.
Tommy is survived by daughters, Linda (Jim) Szopinski, Patricia (Barry) Jones, Sandra (Jeff) Stinson and son, John (Missy) Ross; 11 grandchildren: Brad Jones (Laura Beth), Rachel Szopinski Curry (Matt), Katie Jones Milton (J.D.), John Szopinski (Margaret), Betty Kay Stinson Williams (Jake), Todd Jones, Rebecca Szopinski Guinn (Ryan), Mary Jo Stinson Dahms (Jesse), T.J. Ross (Chelsea), Sam Stinson and Matt Ross; and 7 great-grandchildren: Jameson Curry, Ross Williams, Marianna Jones, Kinley Milton, Ellie Joe Ross, Jude Curry and Jasper Curry; sister Betty Rome of Memphis, TN; niece Tia Rome of Memphis; nephews Bill Ross (Lynne) of Rincon, GA and Tim Ross (Jana) of Lexington, TN; great-niece Sandy Lovorn (John) and several other great-nieces and great-nephews.
Bodkin Funeral Home is in charge of services. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Tommy Ross was born to Argil Lee Ross and Suda Adaline Ross on December 4, 1930, in Sardis, Tennessee. He graduated from Saltillo High School and attended Draughon’s Business College in Nashville. While in college, he worked as a typist at Cook Truck Lines, later to become Viking Freight. He only veered from trucking for a two-year stint in the Marine Corps in the 1950’s and to help operate Ross Appliance, the store he and his older brother, Paul, purchased in the 1960’s. From his evening job as a Cook Truck Lines bill clerk, he went on to handle claims, work in sales, manage terminals, help shepherd Viking through labor strife in the 1960’s and finally founded his own company, Milan Express, in 1969. With only one tractor and two trailers, Milan Express grew into a nationwide entity.
Tommy was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church where he belonged to the Forum Sunday School class, Methodist Men and was on numerous church committees. He was a founding member of The Bank of Milan where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for many years. In 1974, Tommy was selected as Milan’s Man of the Year. He received the Pinnacle Award, the highest honor of the Tennessee Trucking Association, for his lifetime commitment to his company and industry in 2011. He was a proud member of the Milan Lions Club. Tommy was a past member of the board of directors of the Tennessee Trucking Association and past member of the following boards: Milan School Board, YMCA board, Oakwood Cemetery Association and Milan Hospital Board.
Tommy would often tell his children the most important things in life were God, Family, Country and Company and in that order. He not only told them this, he lived it. He always put God first and tried to help anyone he could without any recognition. His wife, Thelma, was the love of his life for 64 years and he cherished her and their children. He loved his country and was proud to be an American. He also loved his employees like they were family. After 45 years of realizing his dream, he hung up his cap in 2014 with the sale of his beloved company. His remaining years were spent at home. Although he suffered with dementia during this time, his sweet and gentle nature could not be taken away. On June 18, 2020, after a brief battle with pneumonia, he left his earthly home for his eternal one.
He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife, Thelma; brother, Paul Ross and sister-in-law, Evelyn Ross of Milan, TN; brother-in-law, Al Rome of Memphis, TN and nephew, Bobby Ross of Milan, TN.
Tommy is survived by daughters, Linda (Jim) Szopinski, Patricia (Barry) Jones, Sandra (Jeff) Stinson and son, John (Missy) Ross; 11 grandchildren: Brad Jones (Laura Beth), Rachel Szopinski Curry (Matt), Katie Jones Milton (J.D.), John Szopinski (Margaret), Betty Kay Stinson Williams (Jake), Todd Jones, Rebecca Szopinski Guinn (Ryan), Mary Jo Stinson Dahms (Jesse), T.J. Ross (Chelsea), Sam Stinson and Matt Ross; and 7 great-grandchildren: Jameson Curry, Ross Williams, Marianna Jones, Kinley Milton, Ellie Joe Ross, Jude Curry and Jasper Curry; sister Betty Rome of Memphis, TN; niece Tia Rome of Memphis; nephews Bill Ross (Lynne) of Rincon, GA and Tim Ross (Jana) of Lexington, TN; great-niece Sandy Lovorn (John) and several other great-nieces and great-nephews.
Bodkin Funeral Home is in charge of services. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Tommy Wayne Ross, age 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to many, went to be with his Lord and Savior, June 18, 2020.
Tommy Ross was born to Argil Lee Ross and Suda Adaline Ross on December 4, 1930, in Sardis, Tennessee. He graduated from Saltillo High School and attended Draughon’s Business College in Nashville. While in college, he worked as a typist at Cook Truck Lines, later to become Viking Freight. He only veered from trucking for a two-year stint in the Marine Corps in the 1950’s and to help operate Ross Appliance, the store he and his older brother, Paul, purchased in the 1960’s. From his evening job as a Cook Truck Lines bill clerk, he went on to handle claims, work in sales, manage terminals, help shepherd Viking through labor strife in the 1960’s and finally founded his own company, Milan Express, in 1969. With only one tractor and two trailers, Milan Express grew into a nationwide entity.
Tommy was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church where he belonged to the Forum Sunday School class, Methodist Men and was on numerous church committees. He was a founding member of The Bank of Milan where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for many years. In 1974, Tommy was selected as Milan’s Man of the Year. He received the Pinnacle Award, the highest honor of the Tennessee Trucking Association, for his lifetime commitment to his company and industry in 2011. He was a proud member of the Milan Lions Club. Tommy was a past member of the board of directors of the Tennessee Trucking Association and past member of the following boards: Milan School Board, YMCA board, Oakwood Cemetery Association and Milan Hospital Board.
Tommy would often tell his children the most important things in life were God, Family, Country and Company and in that order. He not only told them this, he lived it. He always put God first and tried to help anyone he could without any recognition. His wife, Thelma, was the love of his life for 64 years and he cherished her and their children. He loved his country and was proud to be an American. He also loved his employees like they were family. After 45 years of realizing his dream, he hung up his cap in 2014 with the sale of his beloved company. His remaining years were spent at home. Although he suffered with dementia during this time, his sweet and gentle nature could not be taken away. On June 18, 2020, after a brief battle with pneumonia, he left his earthly home for his eternal one.
He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife, Thelma; brother, Paul Ross and sister-in-law, Evelyn Ross of Milan, TN; brother-in-law, Al Rome of Memphis, TN and nephew, Bobby Ross of Milan, TN.
Tommy is survived by daughters, Linda (Jim) Szopinski, Patricia (Barry) Jones, Sandra (Jeff) Stinson and son, John (Missy) Ross; 11 grandchildren: Brad Jones (Laura Beth), Rachel Szopinski Curry (Matt), Katie Jones Milton (J.D.), John Szopinski (Margaret), Betty Kay Stinson Williams (Jake), Todd Jones, Rebecca Szopinski Guinn (Ryan), Mary Jo Stinson Dahms (Jesse), T.J. Ross (Chelsea), Sam Stinson and Matt Ross; and 7 great-grandchildren: Jameson Curry, Ross Williams, Marianna Jones, Kinley Milton, Ellie Joe Ross, Jude Curry and Jasper Curry; sister Betty Rome of Memphis, TN; niece Tia Rome of Memphis; nephews Bill Ross (Lynne) of Rincon, GA and Tim Ross (Jana) of Lexington, TN; great-niece Sandy Lovorn (John) and several other great-nieces and great-nephews.
Bodkin Funeral Home is in charge of services. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Tommy Ross was born to Argil Lee Ross and Suda Adaline Ross on December 4, 1930, in Sardis, Tennessee. He graduated from Saltillo High School and attended Draughon’s Business College in Nashville. While in college, he worked as a typist at Cook Truck Lines, later to become Viking Freight. He only veered from trucking for a two-year stint in the Marine Corps in the 1950’s and to help operate Ross Appliance, the store he and his older brother, Paul, purchased in the 1960’s. From his evening job as a Cook Truck Lines bill clerk, he went on to handle claims, work in sales, manage terminals, help shepherd Viking through labor strife in the 1960’s and finally founded his own company, Milan Express, in 1969. With only one tractor and two trailers, Milan Express grew into a nationwide entity.
Tommy was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church where he belonged to the Forum Sunday School class, Methodist Men and was on numerous church committees. He was a founding member of The Bank of Milan where he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for many years. In 1974, Tommy was selected as Milan’s Man of the Year. He received the Pinnacle Award, the highest honor of the Tennessee Trucking Association, for his lifetime commitment to his company and industry in 2011. He was a proud member of the Milan Lions Club. Tommy was a past member of the board of directors of the Tennessee Trucking Association and past member of the following boards: Milan School Board, YMCA board, Oakwood Cemetery Association and Milan Hospital Board.
Tommy would often tell his children the most important things in life were God, Family, Country and Company and in that order. He not only told them this, he lived it. He always put God first and tried to help anyone he could without any recognition. His wife, Thelma, was the love of his life for 64 years and he cherished her and their children. He loved his country and was proud to be an American. He also loved his employees like they were family. After 45 years of realizing his dream, he hung up his cap in 2014 with the sale of his beloved company. His remaining years were spent at home. Although he suffered with dementia during this time, his sweet and gentle nature could not be taken away. On June 18, 2020, after a brief battle with pneumonia, he left his earthly home for his eternal one.
He was preceded in death by his parents; beloved wife, Thelma; brother, Paul Ross and sister-in-law, Evelyn Ross of Milan, TN; brother-in-law, Al Rome of Memphis, TN and nephew, Bobby Ross of Milan, TN.
Tommy is survived by daughters, Linda (Jim) Szopinski, Patricia (Barry) Jones, Sandra (Jeff) Stinson and son, John (Missy) Ross; 11 grandchildren: Brad Jones (Laura Beth), Rachel Szopinski Curry (Matt), Katie Jones Milton (J.D.), John Szopinski (Margaret), Betty Kay Stinson Williams (Jake), Todd Jones, Rebecca Szopinski Guinn (Ryan), Mary Jo Stinson Dahms (Jesse), T.J. Ross (Chelsea), Sam Stinson and Matt Ross; and 7 great-grandchildren: Jameson Curry, Ross Williams, Marianna Jones, Kinley Milton, Ellie Joe Ross, Jude Curry and Jasper Curry; sister Betty Rome of Memphis, TN; niece Tia Rome of Memphis; nephews Bill Ross (Lynne) of Rincon, GA and Tim Ross (Jana) of Lexington, TN; great-niece Sandy Lovorn (John) and several other great-nieces and great-nephews.
Bodkin Funeral Home is in charge of services. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
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