William Wesley “Bill” Ross Jr. known to many as “Jim,” age 94, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at the Life Care Center of Osawatomie.
Bill was born May 6, 1922, in Centerville, Kan., the seventh of eight children born to William Wesley and Effie May (Jinks) Ross. He grew up on a farm in Centerville, and attended grade school in Blue Mound schools, graduating from Blue Mound High School with the class of 1940.
On July 3, 1943, he married Dorothy Jean Pruitt in Fort Scott, Kan.; the couple made their home on a farm southwest of Blue Mound. To this union they were blessed with three children: Pauletta, Doyle and Ronnie.
Bill farmed for more than 30 years then he and Jean sold their farm and moved to Moran, Kan., and he worked at the ammunition plant in Parsons; then later moving to Parsons where Bill worked at the Parsons State Training Center. He continued to work for the Parsons State Training Center after moving to Altamont, Kan. After 15 years he retired in 1987.
He and Jean sold their home in Altamont and began a life of travel in their new fifth wheel they called home. Wintering in the Brownsville, Texas, area they traveled across the states for almost ten years. Bill and Jean loved to travel, camp and fish, and they loved their choice of retirement.
In 1997 Bill and Jean settled in Osawatomie. They enjoyed being in Osawatomie and being close to their daughter Pauletta and her family. Jean later became ill and the couple moved from their home to Carr Apartments. Jean died on Oct. 4, 2005. Bill and Jean were married for 62 years.
Bill remained living at the apartment they had shared. With failing eyesight, television was a struggle to watch, but he enjoyed talking to people and loved to take walks and of course spend time with his family. In 2011 Bill moved to Vintage Park Assisted Living in Osawatomie where he remained until he became ill and spent a week in the hospital. On Oct. 26 he was moved to the Life Care Center of Osawatomie where he passed the following day.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Osawatomie for many years.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jean; six brothers and one sister.
Survivors include his children: Pauletta (Clayton) Stites of Osawatomie, Doyle (Nola) Ross of Amarillo, Texas, and Ronnie (Betty) Ross of Corpus Christi, Texas. Grandchildren: Tammy, Trent, Troy, Tanya, Jennifer, Kendall and Kiley and 16 great-grandchildren along with many other family and friends.
Services were Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home. Burial at Sunny Slope Cemetery in Blue Mound, Kan. Memorials are to First Baptist Church of Osawatomie and may be sent c/o Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home, PO Box 430, Osawatomie, KS 66064.
OBITUARIES
John Ted Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025

Linn County News Published May 14, 2025 John Ted Miles passed away suddenly May 1, 2025, at the Guest Home Estates Assisted Living Facility in Fort Scott, Kan. He lived at 9 N. Hillside Drive, Holiday Lakes, before his battle with diabetes caused blindness and a... [More]
Zachary Eldon White ~ 06-12-1992 to 04-29-2025

Linn County News Published May 7, 2025 Zachary Eldon White, 32, of Mound City, Kan., died on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. He was born on June 12, 1992, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Roger and Jessica Smith White. He graduated from Jayhawk Linn High School in the Class... [More]
Rebecca S. Landers 12-30-1964 to 04-18-2025

Linn County News Published May 7, 2025 Rebecca S. Landers, 60, wife of Troy Landers, passed away Friday, April 18, 2025, at the Horton House in Fort Scott, Kan. She was born Dec. 30, 1964, in Ottawa, Kan., the daughter of Maurice Edward Zimmerman and Sarah Ellen... [More]
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- Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025
- Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025
- Anna Louise Stites ~ 09-27-1946 to 04-13-2025
- Sandra Kay “Sandy” Crooks ~ 01-08-1949 to 04-13-2025
- Richard Lee Keaton ~ 01-29-1935 to 04-05-2025
NEWS
LCSO releases statement on incident

On May 16, 2025, at approximately 1:37 AM the Linn County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call stating that a person had yelled at and then shot a firearm around a group of teenagers in the area of Front Street and Walnut Street in Prescott, Kansas. Upon arrival Linn County... [More]
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Commissioners hear update, discuss aid agreement for Pleasanton FD

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SPORTS
Pleasanton baseball splits against Jayhawk

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Prairie View softball defeats Osawatomie and Girard

The Prairie View softball team played Osawatomie and Girard this past week. The Lady Buffs did well as they traveled to Osawatomie on May 6 and beat the Trojans in a double header, 11-1 and 15-2. The team then hosted Girard on May 9 and the Lady Buffs won a close game... [More]
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

