Robert C. Ross Jr., 78 of Urbana died at 3:40 pm Saturday (Dec. 12, 2009) at the Champaign County Nursing Home. He was surrounded by his wife and three sons as his spirit departed to join his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He was born August 13, 1931, in Champaign, to Mary Patterson Ross and Dr. Robert C. Ross of Urbana. He grew up in Urbana, graduating from Urbana High School in 1949. He graduated from Blackburn College in 1952 with an Associate of Arts degree.

He served in the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston in 1957. It was at Eastern, while sitting in the back of an educational psychology class, that he meet Ruth Smithson of rural Paris, Illinois. They were married on Dec. 27, 1955.

He also received a Master's degree in Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana, in 1967.

He spent 34 years working for the University of Illinois in the Housing Division as a Housing Administrator. He retired in 1994.

He enjoyed playing tennis, swimming, playing bridge, singing, following the Illini football and basketball teams, collecting antiques (especially tools), reading about local history, composing limericks, listening to music of the 1940s and 1950s, and puttering around the house. He sang with "The Singing Men of WGNN" for 2 years until his health prevented his participation. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana for 64 years. He served there as both a deacon and a trustee.

He was preceded in death by his infant twin sister, Ruth, and his two older sisters, Elizabeth Mills and Jeannette Kramer.

He is survived by his wife of almost 54 years, Ruth S. Ross, of Urbana whom he called "Baby Doll". He is also survived by his three sons and their wives: Stephen and Karen Ross of Urbana, David and Amy Ross of Libertyville, Il., and Michael and Kristin Ross of Mahomet, Il. He was blessed with twelve grandchildren: Emily, Katherine, Margaret, Samuel, Stephen, and Isaiah Ross of Urbana, Andrew, Kayla, Samantha, and Jason Ross of Libertyville, and Julia and Nicholas Ross of Mahomet.

He was a patient, devoted, loving husband and father. In his later years, he suffered from dementia, but remained sweet and gentle.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church, Urbana, the Rev. Phil Gittings officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Urbana. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, Urbana.

Memorials may be made to either the First Presbyterian Church of Urbana, 602 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801, or to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090-6011.

Condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.