Vernon H Ross, age 99 years and 8 months young, passed away peacefully of natural causes on the afternoon of May 26, 2023 surrounded by his daughters at his home in Florida.

Born in Beverly, NJ, he was the first child of Elsie and Herbert Ross.

Vernon is preceded in death by his loving wives, Dorothy (d. 1963), Rose (d. 1998), and Jane (d. 2016), his sister, Juanita Kinney, and his grandson, Matthew Simar.

Cherished by his immediate and extended family:  Loving father of Jacqueline Lockwood, Susan Bean, and Janice Ross, grandfather to Matthew Simar, who predeceased him (Stephen Boyd), Seton Simar, and Joshua Lockwood, great grandfather to  Grace Simar, Jayden Lockwood, and Julian Lockwood.  His family included loving step-sons, Jeff Potter, Joel Potter, Jay Potter, and James Potter.

Vernon enlisted in the US Coast Guard during WWII.  He first served on various private sailing yachts patrolling the east coast for German submarines.  He also served as a fire control man petty officer 3rd class on the USS Brunswick embarking on round-trip convoy escort missions from Hampton Roads, Virginia to North Africa.

Vernon started his career as a lineman in NJ Bell, retiring as Chief Switchman in the early eighties.  He lived in Ocean County, NJ until he retired to Florida.

He loved being on the water.  He spent time sailing in the Barnegat Bay and the Chesapeake Bay as well as cruising the entire east coast.  When his sailing days were over, he became an avid kayaker.  He enjoyed exploring the waterways of Florida with the 27-80 Paddlers and the waterways surrounding Boothbay Maine.  His later years were spent sailing model sailboats with good friends.  He always said that a race was when two boats were going in the same direction, and he often won.

Vernon will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

There will be a private burial at Beverly National Cemetery in September.

Please feel free to share a remembrance or message of condolence with the family through this online guestbook.