William (Bill), G. Ross, Jr. born August 13, 1925 in Marshall, TX, passed away on May 27, 2012. Bill is the son of William G. Ross and Mary Ethel Murrell Ross of Marshall, TX. He is survived by his three children, William G. Ross, III, of Woodridge, IL, Rebecca K. Ross of Westlake, OH, and Charles A. Ross of Chicago, IL. He is also survived by his sister, Geraldine Ross Murphy of Rockwall, TX; and four grandchildren, W. Andrew Ross, E. Aaron Ross, Sarah Ruth Ross, and Robert Ross Davidson; and one great grandchild, Sofia Isabell Ross. He was predeceased by his wife, Katie Trice Ross in December of 2007, and his sister Murrell Ross. Shortly after graduating from high school, Bill joined the Merchant Marines in 1943, serving as chief cook and baker aboard a merchant ship during World War II, traveling to ports in North Africa, India, Pakistan and Europe and receiving recognition for serving in the Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Middle East war zones. After completing his service in 1946, Bill moved to Shreveport, LA where he began a 23-year long career with Armour Foods and eventually was transferred to the company's headquarters in Chicago, IL. Bill also held executive roles in the beef divisions of John Morrell Foods, and Swift & Co., where he retired in 1986 as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Beef, Veal & Lamb Division. During his retirement, he and his wife, Katie, lived in Costa Rica for a short while where he served as a consultant for the International Executive Service Corps, providing consulting advice to help advance the beef cattle industry there. His business and pleasure travels also took him to Japan, Central and South America, and Europe. Until recently, Bill was a 25 year resident of Ft. Myers, FL. He also owned a home and resided in Woodridge, IL during the summer months. Bill and his wife, Katie, were lifelong boaters and were members of the Chicago Yacht Club for more than 30 years. They boated extensively on the Great Lakes, and the east and west coasts of Florida, where they have been members of The Landings Yacht Club in Ft. Myers for 25 years. Bill's and Katie's extensive boating experience includes three Great Loop trips, taking their boat from Chicago down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico and back up the East Coast traveling through the Trent-Severn Waterway to the Great Lakes, returning to Michigan City, IN, their home port on Lake Michigan. In lieu of flowers or donations, please go boating.