Henry M. “Bud” Ross, 89, died at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, on Tuesday, October 24, 2017.
Defying the odds, he successfully fought numerous heart problems - but nothing deterred him from living life to the absolute fullest right up to the very end.
He was born on December 19, 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio – where he grew up, the youngest child of three – and only son. As early as age 12, he built his own drill-press using materials at hand (gutter pipe, plumbing fixtures, washing machine motor, etc.) – a foreshadowing of the talent he would later parlay into his own business. Mr. Ross received his undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University where he majored in physics and chemistry. He completed graduate studies in aeronautical and electrical engineering while serving as a carrier-based fighter pilot in the United States Navy.
In 1968, Mr. Ross founded Ross Industries, Inc. at his home in Greenwich, Virginia. He outgrew the Greenwich facility and built a new facility in Midland, Virginia in 1973. He served as Chairman and CEO until 1991 when he retired. Ross Industries – employing over 100 people - continues to manufacture food processing and packaging equipment in Midland – much of which was designed and patented by Mr. Ross.
Prior to starting Ross Industries, he was Chief of Development Engineering at Aeronica Manufacturing Corporation, and Vice President of Keltec Industries. From 1975 until his retirement in 1990, he served on the Board of Directors of what ultimately became Delta Airlines. He is a former board member of The Fauquier Bank of Warrenton and past President of The Fauquier Community Theatre.
He kept busy doing countless things he enjoyed – including performing maintenance, repairs, upgrading, and remodeling his home and scattered outbuildings. A significant part of this was mowing 13 acres of lawn using a machine designed and built by him in his home shop – an example (he liked to say) of “what can happen when a hobby gets out of control”. His inventiveness and creativity were limitless and his friends knew this – often seeking his expertise. These consultations frequently spurred new inventions that he would later patent, examples of which are a thermally-cured adhesively-bonded horse shoe and a water-driven alternator that can be towed behind a boat. He had a life-long fascination with cold fusion and toiled for hours in his home lab with a like-minded colleague, trying to crack the code.

Sailing was his passion for many years. He logged almost 100,000 miles (mostly open-ocean sailing) in his sloop, "Matchless". Many of his friends sailed with him – and a few romances even blossomed on his boat – including 2 weddings!
People who knew “Bud” loved him for his genius, charm, inventiveness, intellectual curiosity, problem-solving, and humor; he drew from an endless store of jokes and nobody could tell them better than he. His generosity extended not only to his family but to those he encountered in his work life and private life – from all walks and stations in life. He mentored and sponsored dozens of people, often recognizing potential when others didn’t -– confident in their abilities to turn their lives around. He believed in second - and even third - chances.
He is predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Lois, who died in 2014. For over 50 years they lived in their historic home, “The Lawn” in Greenwich. Prior to that, his career took the family all around the country, including Cincinnati - OH, Pasadena – CA, and Arlington – VA.
Bud is survived by five children: Gail Gilbert (spouse – Bob), Brian Ross, Holly Briggs (Leonard), Keith Ross (Lee), Bonnie LaGrone (Dean). Survivors include 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He liked to say, “I feel personally responsible for the population explosion!” He also leaves behind his older sister, Fern Spott who lives in Boca Raton and he is predeceased by his other sister, Sandra Johnson; their children - his nieces and nephews - revered their “Uncle Bud”. He was respected and adored by them all.
A private family service will be held at “The Lawn” followed by a celebration of his life at The Inn at Vint Hill, 4200 Aiken Dr., Warrenton, VA on December 16, 1-4PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his name to American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979 - or on line.
Please sign the guestbook at www.bakerpostfh.com