Kenneth Cameron Gross

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Daddy, 99 ½ years old. We rejoice because we know his eternal destination, but we will miss his kindness, wisdom, and smiles. We were truly blessed to be his daughters.

Kenneth C. Gross of Daniels, WV was born May 30, 1925 to the late William P. Gross and Opal Bennett Gross in Oxley, West Virginia (later renamed Beaver, WV). Also preceding him in death were his beloved wife of 73 years Ina (Wilcox) Gross and his sisters: Mildred Lilly, Annalee Bailey, Athlene (Tootsie) Jolly, and Corene Phillips.

A loving and devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother, those left to cherish his memory are his four "dadbum, frazzlin" daughters: Ellen Moye (Skip), Milissa Meador (Eddie), Milinda Morrison (David), and Neida Gross; grandchildren: Mike Moye, Marc Moye, Amanda Whitsel, Jason Meador, Devin Morrison, Erika Blankenship, Demi Martin and 12 great-grandchildren with two more on the way. Siblings: Naomi Williams, Ardith (Wink) Grose, Sam Gross, Tom Gross, brother-in-law Douglas Wilcox; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was respected by all who knew him to be a man of honor and integrity.

After graduating from Shady Spring High School in 1943, Kenneth served with the navy medical corps during WWII in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Six months after discharge, he married Ina Wilcox on June 24, 1946. Using his GI bill, he attended Concord College majoring in biology and pinochle, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in 1949. He then went on to West Virginia University to complete his master's in education. Learning and teaching were his passion and in 1951 Kenneth started his career teaching junior high math at Marsh Fork, then transferred to Shady Spring High School as a biology teacher until 1966 touching and inspiring many young minds. During the summers Kenneth worked painting fences at Pinecrest Sanitarium in order to play softball. The following 16 years he was an administrator at the Raleigh County Board office, retiring in 1982. K.C. served his community volunteering with the Beaver Lions Club (glasses, golf tournament, Christmas trees…). He and Ina would regularly get up early to swim at the YMCA and enjoyed traveling - whether to an Elderhostel program (Roads Scholar) or even more of an adventure taking drives on the back roads of West Virginia. With Ina he faithfully attended Grace Gospel Church and later Daniels Bible Church. Competition of any form was his thing – horseshoes, Cribbage, Gross-family Rage games to name just a few. K.C. was a news-junkie, but also enjoyed listening to bluegrass music, watching Andy Griffith and WVU football.

A special thank you to Kenneth's V.A. Home Based primary care team, Center Well Home Health, and Hospice of Southern West Virginia. We can never adequately express our gratitude for the extra-special love and care shown to Dad by Shari Manning, 7 years of caregiving, and more recently, Angel Acord.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to: Beaver Lions Club  P. O. Box 796 Beaver, WV 25813 or Hospice of Southern West Virginia  P.O. Box 1472, Beckley, WV 25802  www.hospiceofshouthernwv.org

Funeral Services will be conducted at the Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley, WV on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 11:00 AM with Doctor Stan Day officiating. Burial To follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens at Prosperity, WV. Friends may visit with the family from 6:00PM - 8:00PM on Friday, December 13, 2024 at the funeral home.

Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook, at www.roseandquesenberry.net. Arrangements are by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, 1901 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV.