On Tuesday March 22, 2016, United States Air Force Retired Colonel, Frederic “Fred” Stafford Ross passed away peacefully at the age of 84, in his home in Tacoma Washington, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Fred was born in Annapolis, Maryland in 1931. He studied Engineering and Military Science at the University of Maryland, where he met his wife Suzanna in 1958 and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Fred and Suzanna had two sons, Anthony and Steven. Fred joined the Air Force to serve his country and and they began their journey to live in Maryland, Louisiana, New Jersey, Alaska, New Mexico, Alabama, Colorado, Virginia and his final assignment at McChord Air Force Base in Washington State. He was a decorated fighter pilot who proudly served his country during the Vietnam War as an Operations Officer and Commander of the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay. The Ross Family moved to many U.S. states and also spent three years living abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark while Fred served as the Air Attache to Denmark. As a pilot, Fred also spent time in Thailand, Greenland, Iceland, and Japan and was known for making friends all over the world.

His military decorations include: Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (30LC) and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

After retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 1979, Colonel Ross returned to school at Pierce Community College to study Computer Science while waiting for his wife to retire from teaching elementary school in Tacoma. He then had a second career with the State of Washington in the Department of Natural Resources. Fred loved being a father and traveling all over the West Coast to watch both of his sons compete in wrestling tournaments as young men. Fred also was a true music aficionado who loved Jazz and folk music. He also loved sailing and hiking in the mountains with his family and was a master gardener. Fred spent countless hours nurturing an incredible backyard in the family home in Lakewood, WA. His love of mountains, nature and hiking made Washington a great place to raise his family.

Fred is survived by Suzanna Ross, his wife of 57 years, and their two sons, Anthony “Tony” Ross (currently of Austin, TX) and Steven Ross (of West Seattle, WA), three grandchildren, Lindsay, Mitchell and Nathan, and three grandpets: DeeDee and Eggo (cats) and Grady (dog).

He is also survived by his sister, Suzi Ross (FL), his brother David Ross and his wife Phyllis (Baltimore, MD) and their children David Ross (Issaquah, WA) and Margo and their families.

There will be only a private family ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org/donate. Tributes and condolences may be made at www.tacomamausoleum.com.

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