The greatest guy in the whole wide world, Walter Dudley Ross, Jr., passed away on June 8, 2012 surrounded by the love of his family.
Dudley was born on September 23, 1925 in Bellingham, Washington to Walter and Mae Ross. The middle of three children, he was raised in Concrete, Washington, and was a graduate of Concrete High School.
In 1943, Dudley joined the United States Marine Corps and served his country with honor until 1946. He bravely fought in the original battle of Iwo Jima until Japan surrendered. Corporal Walter Dudley Ross was always proud to be a Marine. Semper Fi!
Dudley lived a rich life filled with love and many accomplishments. In February of 1952, he graduated from Washington State University and also married the love of his life, Judith Lyter, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Together with his wife, Dudley spent many happy years hunting, fishing and raising their five children. He worked at the State Bank of Concrete until his retirement, always willing to give someone a chance, and a man of his word. Dudley spent his retirement years between Concrete and Kona, Hawaii. He was a lifetime member of the Nile Temple of the Order of the Shrine in Seattle, WA, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Bellingham, WA, the Burlington-United Lodge No. 93 of the Free and Accepted Masons in Sedro Woolley, WA, and the Elks Lodge.
Dudley will be forever remembered by his brother, Donald Ross (Carol Ann Ross), of Lyman; his bride of 60 years, Judith Ross; his beloved children, Terry Freed (Walt Freed), Sherry Buller (Rob Buller), Mary Farnham, Ava Aldridge (Randy Aldridge), and Zeke Ross (Tammy Ross), his treasured grandchildren; Eric Freed, Will Farnham, Megan Kinney, Kristy Thompson, Mandy Meyers, Katie Pierce Elliott, Rob Buller, Kerry Faber, Dan Farnham, Clinton Ross, Lee Post, Robin Aldridge, and Natalie Ross; 24 great- grandchildren and countless other friends and family that were blessed to know him. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jean Kempkes and his parents, Walter and Mae Ross.
Dudley touched the lives of many people with his generosity and infectious smile and he maintained his wonderful sense of humor until the very end.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life on Saturday, June 16 at 1:00 PM, at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Concrete, Washington. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Muscular Dystrophy FSH Society @ FSH Society, Inc., BBRI R353, 64 Grove Street, Watertown, MA 02472; (617) 658-7878; www.fshsociety.org.
Judy was your one true love, your children, hunting and the Marines. When your children went to show and tell They would in all candor, tell the class about how their father and Uncle Charlie won the WW2. when questioned, they would tell about how they had the rising sun flag, signed by the Japanese and two samurai swords. They told us how they would stay in shape and there dad and Charlie would stay sharp by running drills with them. It was beyond hysterical. It was Dudley and Charlie The stories they told made me wish I grew up there. What a lucky bit of luck they found each other,, Judy told me Dudley’s first date was hunting rats at the dump. How different her life with Dudley was the life she had moving all over the world, her father a General and a heart surgeon. Ava has pictures of he and several president and one of them painted an oil for him(the General) when they were in post-war Germany. Everyone who new him knew his love of hunting and the Great Out Doors. Once he took Ava up the Baker on the Tote-gote . They stopped at The top of a clearing and Dudley turns to his daughter and says see em Ava” to which she said, “What”? Dudley puts his arm around his daughter, looks her straight in the eye and says, ” God.
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Judy, Terry, Sherry, Mary , Ava and Zeke; I was so very sorry to hear of Dudley’s passing. I just learned last night. My thoughts are with you all, and wishing we could turn back time to the dove hunting days in Chelan. I keep up a bit with uncle Chuck and he said Dudley was in the hospital. What a pair those two were. Too bad (or perhaps good thing) no one documented the stories. I hope you are comforted by the memory of such an outstanding guy, someone who brought laughter, kindness and friendship to so many. I can only hope he is with my dad and brother, telling stories and smiling on the rest of us. Take care. If you are ever in Eugene, look me up. Thinking of you all,
Becky
To Judy and your family—I send my condolence. Dudley was a very special friend of my late husband Wally,, and I came to know him after we were married. We always looked forward to the Concrete high school reunions to be with friends . Thank you so much for so many times ,Judy, that you shared your home and hospitality. I too, thought of Dudley as a special friend. Please keep in touch with your Xmas notes. Love Rosemary
First: Sincere condolences to Judy & family.
Second: Aloha until we meet again, Old Marine. Part of the Marine Hymn is “if the Army or the Navy ever look on heaven’s scene, they will find the streets are guarded by…the United States Marines.” Guard well, old friend.
We all shall miss you at Kona Elks Lodge.
Call to say we were going to be late! The memories will stay for us forever..and Kona will never be the same. “Judith” was his queen..so proud of her and his family, he would not hesitate to say. To Judy, we love you so, and the family..you are the best. We mourn with you. Vicki & Mike Frank
Oh the times we in Kona! Dudley and Judy, ever the consummate hosts…the beaches we hiked into that no one else knew about..the day the egg salad sandwiches floated out to sea, and Mike almost cried he was so hungry..but Dudley had an extra bottle of champagne..we managed! Sundays at the little church where the Hawaiians treated them like family, many many sunsets on that deck at their home with the gorgeous view, the Kona Elks, ( yes, we found it!) , “fuming’ da ditch,” that was a trip..getting in really late, with our visiting children furious that we didn’t ca
Just wanted to mention that Grandma and Grandpa Tuner, who lived in Concrete, had mentioned many times of how wonderful a man Dudley was. They had nothing but positive words for him. Know he will be greatly missed by his family.
I became acquainted with Dudly and his lovely Wife Judith at the Elks. He always had a kind word to say with his assuring smile. He will be missed. May God’s Blessing be with Judith and the Family.
My Aloha Oi
We have known Dudley and Judy for several years through the Kona Elks Lodge. Dudley was a good friend and always supportive of the Elks. We will miss his smile and witty comments at the meetings and dinners. One last kiss, Dudley!
As fellow Marines, Dudley and my husband, Larry, shared a comaraderie. He always had a twinkle in his eye that I looked forward to seeing. Our hearts are with Judy and family. All of us at the Kona Elks Lodge and the Makoa Wahine O Kona send our love and prayers. We shall miss him. Aloha Oi, until we meet again!
Mr. Ross, as I shall always call him, was my surrogate father and guiding light. He probably never fully realized the tremendous influences he had over me and what I have eventually accomplished with my life. Any small impact I have had on this world is solely due to his tremendous capacity for listening, for understanding, and for those long,quiet moments with a glass of Korbel in his hand, counting satellites in the dark sky overhead.
I shall always remember you, Mr. Ross. Semper Fidelis.
I became acquainted with Dudley as a underwriter for the USF&G Insurance Company in 1957. I soon learned the quality person he was. Dud could overturn any decision he disagreed with with a mere call to management. He is the only person that commanded such respect. His opinion was held held with high esteem and his word was always his bond.
I have many fond memories. When I returned to Mt, Vernon our friendship continued to grow. We shared professional knowledge and also enjoyed some hunting together. Meeting with Dud always provided a great deal of fun. It was my privilege to be considered a friend.
My family moved to Concrete when I was 11. Dudley & Judy had already met my Father. They took us into their family and made us feel very welcome. We spent summers at Baker Lake with them. When we moved to Hawaii they visited us. Dudley will be greatly missed by all those lives he touched.
Dudley and his brother Don were the friendly face of banking in my early years. Dudley always had a smile and a good word, and was invariably welcoming. He was a good man for the community. All good wishes to the Ross family. — Don Thomson, Salem, Oregon
I have had the privilege to have know Mr. Ross for almost 40 years, he was always kind and generous to be around. He and his wife Judith did a tremendous job at raising 5 children who are all a credit to his memory. I am not sure anyone could ask for a better legacy. Dudley you will be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and as a Marine. Semper Fi.
I am just one of the recipients of the generosity of Dudley (and Judy) Ross. While on my own as a high school student, I was welcomed into his home and family, so I could complete my senior year. I never once, felt like an outsider and was able to start my new life without the heavy financial concerns of room and board as for obvious reasons, I couldn’t fully support myself. I remember Dudley as enjoying hunting and and quite the dealer of automobiles of which I also profited with my first pick-up truck at a price which I could afford. Although the time in his home was brief, the Dudley Ross family touched my life for ever. I am honored and grateful to have known him………
I have very fond memories of Dudley. My grandpa (Charles Krotzer) would take me in there while he talked
business with dudley, and he would always say, you know this bank is amazing…….It gives you money !!
He was always ready with a coin to put in my pocket. Never will forget that. He always brightened my day !
my most heart felt prayers to the family. He is a great man !