Honoring the Life and Legacy of
Bill Ross
Eulogy
– From Rebecca:
MY LOVE
This isn’t going to be your typical eulogy, because Bill wasn’t a typical guy. He was much better at telling stories than I am, but I’ll do my best to honor him.
Bill was born William Raymond Ross in Redwood City, CA in 1963 and grew up in Woodside CA in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains with his family and friends. His oldest friend, Jay, would be better at telling stories of them growing up, but I have heard quite a few of them. They used to get into a lot of trouble and have a lot of fun. They were boys and everything that that entails.
He had a fascination with being an airline pilot when he was young. When I met him in La Honda in 1993, he had a job doing corporate flying out of Palo Alto airport and was also working a construction job in Woodside. I was 29, he was 30. He took me on my first plane ride in a Cessna along the Coast of San Francisco to Mendocino for dinner. He was very romantic that way and I was in awe of him and all the traveling he had done. We would go back to Mendocino for our honeymoon.
One year later, he started working for American Eagle and even later flowed through to American Airlines. Eventually he got his dream job as Captain on the Airbus out of Charlotte NC, so he could commute home to Asheville. He was a commercial pilot for 29 years.
He was passionate about traveling, mountaineering, woodworking and photography. He loved barbecuing on his egg, drinking scotch and good IPAs, smoking cigars with his friends, sharing stories, going to the local breweries, seeing concerts and of course, keeping up-to-date on the news and politics.
He is the kindest man I’ve ever known. He was so generous with his time being a counsel and confidant to others. Bill was so very humble when it came to his achievements and depth of intelligence.
He loved meeting new people and getting to know them. He could strike up a conversation with anybody, anywhere and about almost anything. He made people feel comfortable because he was comfortable with people. All people, no matter who they were or where they came from. He made fast friends and kept them for a lifetime.
Bill touched so many lives. He was fearless and very curious. He was always up for a challenge and would jump right in and figure out the rest later. His sense of humor was so brilliant. He had the best laugh and he loved to laugh! I’m sure we all have stories of how he made us laugh and how contagious it was.
He was well loved and he loved well.
He leaves behind so many including his brother Matt, his sisters Sandy and Stephanie, his niece and nephew Koko and Saxon, numerous cousins, his Aunt and Uncle and his beloved daughter, Britta. At the drop of a hat he would tell anyone how proud he was of her, how much she’s accomplished and how excited he was to hear about the next thing she was going to do. He lit up every time she came into his presence.
He was taken too soon from us, but in true Bill Ross fashion we will keep his spirit alive through our laughter, our love for one another and the stories all of us will continue to share about his wise wisdom, his passions and his sense of adventure.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF BILL ROSS
Celebration of Life
Recorded Saturday, July 15, 2023
Bill’s family invites you to view the Celebration of Life honoring Bill’s life and legacy.
Slideshow
Photo Gallery
In Lieu Of Flowers Please Consider Donating To Bill's GoFundMe Campaign
Your generous support helps Rebecca with the costs of the memorial website and gatherings during this difficult time.
In Lieu Of Flowers Please Consider Donating To St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.
Your donation in Bill’s memory beautifully honors him and supports his favorite charity.
My brother, my friend, my hero and my confidant. I have so many stories of our times together and apart. You helped support me emotionally when I didnt see hope and was also a wonderful asshole when I needed an older brother to put me in check! I am still in denial cause we only spoke hours prior tonyour departure and Im just hopeful you are in the arms of mom and dad and that all the other members of our tribe are are celebrating your path while here! I also hope you and diane and donna are finally dancing again like you used too ! I love you with all my heart and will make sure your heart amd voice is still heard loud and clear throughout my journey. ❤️ Thanks to all that have supported Beck and her journey! She was and will always be the love of his life that he gave his whole heart too. ✨️ until we meet again brother ! ?
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Love you Matt?
We Will Always Love You, Bill. And Rebecca, we feel honored that you shared your amazing partner with us. Thank you for being such a wonderful gift to the world. We thank God for you and Bill. We loved the service and the setting. Wish we could have been there with you. I look forward to getting there for a visit. Blessings to you. Treda and Trudy
Thank you Treda ❤️ you’re welcome anytime
Bill was a wonderful neighbor! He always had a smile and a kind word to share.
Thanks for the memories, Woodside, Skyline, La Honda, our friends, your bachelor party, you and Rebecca. You will be missed but never forgotten..
For me, memories of life in La Honda and Woodside are inseparable from Bill and his marvelous Becky. I know when I am out there under the redwoods, Bill is there too.
❤️
If Bugsy were still here he would probably share a picture like this.
I love that pic
I am gratefull for every moment I got to spend with Bill.
He loved hiking with y’all. It was one of his biggest passions. Three tries and three summits on Ranier.
Our baby of the family….back in 1963!
That’s a great one Ann!
Cousin Bill, you left us way too soon, darn it! I miss your wit! I miss your smile!
Brother Bill. Above all I miss you so much. I was going to come see you just for your fresh popped popcorn and to visit of course, but I loved your popcorn. I was at your wedding on mount Shasta with the shaman and was so thankful to be 1 of the 5 in attendance. You were so special and so easy to speak to but you had no problem voicing your opinion which led to some great discussions. You were taken too early and I loved you very much.
I love you sis❤️
Thanks for the time we had together. Love you always.
The Glens. Woodside
Love that one❤️
Oh my, too many times to talk about at this time. Surprise visit with you and Ray on Thanksgiving at our new house in SLO, pool parties at your Woodside home, etc, etc. Our son, Ray and I will be visiting with your friends July 15th.
With much love, Uncle Bill & Aunt Faith
Woodside High School