Merrill R. Ross, 92, passed away Wednesday, February 15, 2012 in Hemphill, Texas. He was born December 28, 1919 in Flat Lick, Kentucky, to Richard F. & Tama P. Ross.

The family moved to Pineville, Kentucky where he lived until leaving to attend Kentucky State University. He then went to Kansas State in Pittsburg where he completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees.

After teaching in Fort Scott, Kansas, he moved to Topeka in September, 1944 to teach, only to be inducted into the military two months later.

After serving two years in the Army Air Core and becoming a fighter pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen. He returned to Topeka to teach at all four black elementary schools and coach the THS Ramblers until 1949. In 1954 he became a principal at Washington Elem. until its closing in 1962, when he went to Avondale West. In 1974 he was appointed to Sheldon Elementary until it closed in 1977, when he went to Quinton Heights until he retired in 1985. In 1992 he was inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame, and the same year received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International which he had been a member since 1967.

In November 1993 he and his wife were honored by having Highland Park S. Elem. School renamed Ross Elementary.

On June 12th, 1951 Merrill married Barbara Ann Jackson, she survives.

Other survivors include: children, Karen Fowle (Jerry) Hemphill; TX, Brian (Kim) Largo, MD; 3 granddaughters, Felicia Walker, Amanda Bindel (John) Austin, TX, Mary Satoro (Anthony) San Antonio, TX; four great granddaughters and one great grandson, on sister in-law and many nieces, nephews & cousins.

Service time has change to Sat. 12:00 noon Feb. 25th at Shiloh Baptist. Instate Friday Feb. 24 at Bowser Johnson Funeral Chapel 4-8 p.m., family will receive from 6-8 p.m. with burial at Topeka Cemetery.

Published in Topeka Capital-Journal from February 22 to February 23, 2012

Merrill R. Ross, 92, passed away Wednesday, February 15, 2012 in Hemphill, Texas. He was born December 28, 1919 in Flat Lick, Kentucky, to Richard F. & Tama P. Ross.

The family moved to Pineville, Kentucky where he lived until leaving to attend Kentucky State University. He then went to Kansas State in Pittsburg where he completed his Bachelors and Masters degrees.

After teaching in Fort Scott, Kansas, he moved to Topeka in September, 1944 to teach, only to be inducted into the military two months later.

After serving two years in the Army Air Core and becoming a fighter pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen. He returned to Topeka to teach at all four black elementary schools and coach the THS Ramblers until 1949. In 1954 he became a principal at Washington Elem. until its closing in 1962, when he went to Avondale West. In 1974 he was appointed to Sheldon Elementary until it closed in 1977, when he went to Quinton Heights until he retired in 1985. In 1992 he was inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame, and the same year received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from Rotary International which he had been a member since 1967.

In November 1993 he and his wife were honored by having Highland Park S. Elem. School renamed Ross Elementary.

On June 12th, 1951 Merrill married Barbara Ann Jackson, she survives.

Other survivors include: children, Karen Fowle (Jerry) Hemphill; TX, Brian (Kim) Largo, MD; 3 granddaughters, Felicia Walker, Amanda Bindel (John) Austin, TX, Mary Satoro (Anthony) San Antonio, TX; four great granddaughters and one great grandson, on sister in-law and many nieces, nephews & cousins.

Service time has change to Sat. 12:00 noon Feb. 25th at Shiloh Baptist. Instate Friday Feb. 24 at Bowser Johnson Funeral Chapel 4-8 p.m., family will receive from 6-8 p.m. with burial at Topeka Cemetery.

Published in Topeka Capital-Journal from February 22 to February 23, 2012