Alma Gross' Obituary
A selfless woman and role model, Alma J. Gross, of Bellbrook, passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at her home. She was 89. Born Alma Jean Oxford, her earthbound journey began on June 3, 1931 in Elizabethtown (Cave-In-Rock), Illinois.
Alma grew up with a big family of two sisters and six brothers in Rock Creek, Illinois and moved to Marion, Illinois in 1944. She graduated from Marion High School in 1949 and later that year, met Harold J. Gross "Babe". He was the love of her life and she became his bride on June 2, 1951. They were married at St. Pascal's Church in Chicago. They were blessed with a loving family and together they raised four children with patience, discipline, and humility. In addition to raising four children, in 1962, Alma graduated from the Salena Beauty School in Chicago with her license in cosmetology. From then until 2007, she worked out of their home where a portion of it was converted into a beauty shop.
Their journey began in an apartment on North Francisco Avenue in Chicago. In 1955, they moved to Brook Road in Prospect Heights, Illinois. In 1968, they moved to Rosecrest Drive in Bellbrook, then to Desoto and Rocket, Texas, finally returning to Bellbrook in 2007. With so many precious memories of visiting relatives and life-long friends, family picnics and reunions, birthdays and holidays, they lived a truly wonderful life.
Anchored in the Catholic Church, they dedicated their children to God from their Baptisms and First Communions, to Catholic School. They instilled their children with common sense and conservative values, always leading by example.
Alma was preceded in death by her husband, Harold J. Gross, her parents, Gilbert and Cora Oxford, her sisters, Wanda and Betty Cash, and her brothers, Kenny, Wink, Leonard, Russell, Harry Oxford and David Oxford. She is survived by her son, Thom Gross and his wife, Faith; daughter, Nancy Snyder and her husband, Ted; son, Mike Gross and his wife Debbie; son, Tim Gross; twelve grandchildren, Heather McKay and her husband, James; Amy Reynoso and her husband, Fernando; Andrew Gross; Jeremy Evans and his wife, Veronica; Jenny Hollabaugh; Tracy Sundermeier and her husband, Denny; Brandon Snyder; Josh Gross and his wife, Danielle; Jess Gross; Jana Vest and her husband, Kevin; Melissa Jones and her husband, Burk; and Melanie Gross; seventeen great-grandchildren (with two more on the way), Alexander and Cameron Reynoso; Jacob, Hudson, and Luke McKay; Jackson and Ava Hollabaugh; Henry and Elliot Sundermeier; Harper and Ethan Gross; Jamie and Jessie Young and Jaxson Cowan; Jayson Evans; Ott Layne Jones; and Bennett Vest.
We each have a different way of knowing Alma...as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend...but we can all agree on how much she enriched our lives through her selfless love and sacrifices. She taught us the value of hard work, good judgement, courage and honesty. Above all else, Alma was the finest example of faithfulness and commitment, as well as her devotion to our Lord and the Catholic Church. We will cherish her laughter, her smile, and the quiet times we've shared. We are so grateful for all things and we hope she knows how much she is loved and appreciated every day!
You are invited to Alma's life celebration visitation on Thursday September 3rd, 6-8 pm, at CONNER & KOCH Life Celebration Home, 92 W. Franklin St., Bellbrook (937-848-6651). A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 am on Friday September 4th at the Church of the Incarnation, 7415 Far Hills Ave., Centerville, with procession to Bellbrook Cemetery to follow.
Alma will be deeply missed by her loved ones, who celebrate the fact that she is at peace with her creator. We have lost a great treasure, but she is enjoying hers in Heaven...and back in the arms of her beloved Harold. Our eternal home looks better to us every day...what a joyous celebration that reunion will be!
You are welcome to send a condolence, plant a tree and share a story about Alma here on her Book of Memories.
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