Leona B. Ross

ST. JOSEPH – Leona B. Ross, 71, of St. Joseph, passed away on Thursday, June 7, 2007, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. A service celebrating her life will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home in St. Joseph with Pastor Thomas Batsky officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph or Animal Aid. Leona was born on Jan. 23, 1936, to Betty and Henry A. Frobel in St. Joseph, living in the same residence since she was six months old. Graduating from St. Joseph High School in 1954, she worked as a travel agent for Vawter Travel and later as a secretary for Berrien County Association of Churches. On Dec. 10, 1965, she married William C. Ross who preceded her in death on Dec. 29, 1998. They had two children, David W. Ross and Janeen Ross. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph. Survivors include her son, David W. Ross and her daughter, Janeen (Mark) Zerbe, both of St. Joseph; her grandchildren, Jordyn Ross of Bridgman and Ross Zerbe of St. Joseph; her stepchildren, Shirley (Lawrence) Eva of Berrien Springs and George (Terri) Ross of St. Joseph; her step-grandchildren, Jennifer, Steven, and Taryn Eva, and Shane Ross. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents.