William "Bill" Ross

William Randolph Ross Jr. (“Bill”) was born on December 16, 1929, to William R. and Elise E. Ross in Philadelphia, PA. After high school, Bill enrolled at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, where he graduated in 1952 with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. In September 1952, Bill married Mildred May Robbins of Philadelphia.

Bill began a successful 13-year career with Merck, Sharpe and Dohme. He also served 9 years in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Medical Corpsman and later in Naval Security. Bill felt called into pastoral ministry and graduated from Philadelphia College of Bible in 1966. He then moved to Dallas, TX, to attend Dallas Theological Seminary, earning another Master’s degree. After graduating, Bill pastored Northwood Evangelical Free Church.

In 1976, Bill and Mildred moved to Battle Creek, MI, where he pastored Battle Creek Bible Church. He obtained his doctorate degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1981. In 1982, Bill and Mildred moved to Kansas City, where he pastored Blue Ridge Bible Church until 2000, when he retired from full-time ministry to care for Mildred.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mildred (almost 51 years), and his brother Maynard. In 2004, Bill married Linda Wonders. He is survived by his wife Linda, his daughter Linda Louise Delamarter (Bob) of Winter Haven, FL, Craig David (Shawn) of Denton, TX, and Keith William (Pam) of Portland, OR, along with 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.