Lawrence Gross — UPDATED
Retired Lt. Col. Lawrence Bernard Gross, 98, Pierceton, died May 21, 2022, at home. He was born August 19, 1923, near Warsaw, to Earl and Katie Pearl Ropp Gross. He was the fourth child of seven children born into this family.
A child in the 1920’s, a teenager during the Depression and a young adult during the 1940’s, as well as a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, an Air Force Officer and a Christian, Lawrence embodied the values and strengths of the “Greatest Generation.” He will be missed greatly by his family and all who knew him. His love for his country could only be rivaled by his love for his family and friends.
Lawrence was an avid reader of history and aviation. He was a member of the Wounded Warrior Project. Lawrence was active in the United Methodist Church of Pierceton, serving on many committees. For several years, he had served as church treasurer and teacher for the adult Sunday school class. Lawrence and Athalia celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary in June 2021.
Lawrence is survived by his dearly beloved wife, Athalia; their children, daughter Mary Beth (Jim) Esneault, Arizona; son James Lawrence (Joyce) Gross, Pennsylvania; grandchildren, Eva Marie Washburn, Alaska, Joseph Lawrence Esneault, Arizona, Jeremy Robert Orr, Warsaw and Jennifer Malia Flinn, Silver Lake; great-grandsons, Braydon Washburn, Alaska, and Hunter Jones, Fort Wayne; and many loved nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, Earl and Katie Pearl Gross; a sister, Neva Gross; and brothers, Robert Gross, Missouri, Walter Gross, California, Max Gross, Warsaw, Bill Gross, Utah and Paul Gross, Missouri.
Lawrence was a very caring and loving husband and father. The gifts he left us in the form of memories are many, and he will be deeply missed by all.
Military funeral services will be held Thursday May 26, 2022, at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel 105 S. 1st St. Pierceton, with visitation from 1—2 p.m. Reverends John Baughman and Carolyn Kern will give the message. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery, Pierceton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made online to the Wounded Warriors Project at www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org or to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, 1048 S. 325 E., Pierceton, or www.awlwarsaw.com