Eugene Weston Ross III

Eugene Weston Ross III Gene Ross, 84, passed away from pneumonia on December 2, 2023, marking the end of a journey that started and ended in Indianapolis, with many adventures along the way, including pitstops in Tennessee, Colorado, Vermont, North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. Born on December 17, 1938, to the late Eugene Weston Ross Jr. and Lois Moore Ross, Gene grew up in Irvington, attended Howe High School, and was a 1957 graduate of Warren Central High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Vanderbilt University (1961) and his master’s degree in theatre from the University of North Carolina (1971). Gene married the love of his life, Diane Wolfe, on August 5, 1961, and the lifelong bond they shared – as soulmates, best friends, traveling companions, partners, parents, grandparents, and lovebirds – is the stuff of legends. Gene seemed to stay perpetually young with new hobbies and interests throughout his life, from acting and directing in local theaters, writing and reciting poetry, playing banjo, golfing, go-karting, camping, dancing (clog, disco, contra, line, square), and, most recently, bowling … which he excelled at even after two strokes diminished his vision and mobility. Gene enjoyed adventurous and spicy cuisine from around the world, and took particular pleasure in assessing the hodge-podge of unusual dishes spread across the family dinner table and speculating, “I bet we’re the only ones on the block eating this tonight.” To the end, Gene delighted in live music, especially bluegrass. He and Diane attended countless shows and festivals, locally and across the country, and felt fortunate to count many musicians among their friends. Combining two of his passions, Gene was the creator of Hot Food, Cool Music parties, and also founder of the NQRFPTP (Not Quite Ready for Prime Time Pickers) slow jam. His careers were equally eclectic, including teaching theater at Radford College in Virginia, opening a dinner theater (the Druid Cellar) in Atlanta with Diane in 1974, working with youth at the Atterbury Job Corps and then the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center, and teaching speech and communication at Ivy Tech College for the last 17 years of his career. In celebration of Gene’s life, a gathering with bluegrass music, fellowship, and fond remembrances will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shirley Brothers Irving Hill Chapel, 5377 East Washington Street. Gene is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Diane Ross, daughters, Shelley S. Ross (Jim Stewart) and Shannon L. Ross (Dean Metcalf); grandchildren, Gordon Ross McNulty and Elsie Ross McNulty; and brothers, Mike S. Ross (Mary), Phil L. Ross (Tatiana), and Jon K. Ross, and their children and grandchildren. Gene enjoyed meeting new people and making friends along the way, shaking hands with a twinkle in his eyes and a heartfelt, “Glad to know you.” As we all now continue on our own journeys without him, he would tell us, if he could, “Be careful” … which was his way of saying, “I love you.”

Tributes

Eugene Weston Ross III

December 17, 1938 - December 2, 2023