Franklin J. Ross, age 90, long time Carson City resident, formerly of Arlington, VA, passed away on January 13, 2012 in Palm Desert, CA.
Frank was born in Bowbells, ND, August 19, 1921. He moved to Avon, MN at age 6 upon the death of his parents to live with his mother's parents. Attended St. John's University and University of MN receiving Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering in 1946 and MS in 1947. He served as aircraft maintenance officer and B29 flight engineer instructor from 1942-46 in US Army Air Corps. During 1947- 51 and 1953-55 was a member of the research staff and later administrative scientist of the Rosemont Aeronautical Laboratories at the U of MN, Department of Aeronautical Engineering. Recalled to active duty with the MN Air National Guard 51-53 and served as radar maintenance officer and research project officer. Appointed as Chief of the Technical Facilities Division and later as Technical Director, Directorate of Flight Test of the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB from 1955-58. Attended MIT 1958-59 as a Sloan Fellow and was awarded an MS degree in industrial management in 1959. From 1959-67 served as Deputy for Requirements in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (R&D). In 1967 was appointed as the Director of Advisory Group for Aeronautical R&D (AGARD), NATO, in Paris, France, and served in that post until 1970. He returned to Secretary Air Force R&D (SAFRD) as Deputy for Requirements in 1970, retiring from Federal Government in 1978. He then joined Thiokol Corporation as its Washington DC representative for their space and congressional interests. We was well liked and respected in his private sector employment.
His memberships included: Washington Golf & Country Club, Thunder Canyon Golf Club, Chowder & Marching Society, Rod, Gun & Airplane Club, Jacobs Creek Gunning Club, Associate Fellow ALAA, Board of Directors, Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Brussels, Belgium
Associate Advisor, USAF Scientific Advisory Board, Standing Committee of the Federal Council for Science & Technology.
Frank was preceded in death by his first wife of 35 years, Nancy Belyea Critchett Ross in 1983; his son, Franklin Fowler Ross in 2003; and his three brothers. Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Patricia Tyson (Peggy), and her 4 daughters & their families; his daughter Critchett R. and her husband John Hodukavich of Arlington, VA; his sister Eleanor Johnson (Babe) of Osakis, MN; and seven grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
Frank loved God, his wife, his family, his friends, and America. He avidly pursued knowledge and helped others to do the same. His lifelong interests included travel, golf, skiing, reading, hunting, fishing, theater, and visiting friends and family. He was a 33-year member of St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington, VA, and a 19-year member of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Carson City, NV.
A memorial service will be celebrated Friday, April 13th at 4 pm at St. Teresa Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 6362, Reno NV 85913 or St. Teresa Church.
