Obituary: Robert Ross Stow (May 15, 1951 – Dec. 9, 2011)

Robert Ross Stow died December 9, 2011, in Fairbanks, Alaska, from complications related to pneumonia. 

A service will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2011, at  1 p.m. in the  Cornerstone Assembly of God’s Fellowship Hall, 1281 Douglas Street, Crescent City.

Ross was born on May 15, 1951, in Cave Junction, Ore., to Joe and Etta Stow, joining his two older sisters Nicki and Judy. A few years later, a third sister, Paula, would join them. The family moved to Grants Pass, Ore. In 1964 the family moved  on  to Crescent City. Ross attended the sixth through eighth grade at Redwood Elementary School in Fort Dick, and then Del Norte High School in Crescent City.

In 1969 Ross married Brigitte Wolfinbarger (Gidget) and they had three children, Brad, Jennifer and Jerrod. In 1987, Ross moved to Woodland, Wash., where he met and married his second wife Laura Modaff. Along with Genevieve, Laura’s daughter, they moved to Randle, Wash., and later to Packwood, Wash. Ross held many jobs during his life, but for the last years of his life Ross was employed by the Washington State Department of Transportation, running heavy equipment; mostly, he worked at White  Mountain  Pass keeping the roads clear of snow.

Ross enjoyed many things in life. In 1984, he became a member of the Assembly of God Church and was an active member in various churches as he moved around the Northwest. Ross was a great storyteller and entertained family and friends with his tall tales. It was often said “who needs TV when we have Ross.” Being the only son with three sisters was a challenge, but Ross excelled at being a brother. In his spare time, you could find him hunting, fishing and picking mushrooms. In 2011, Ross fulfilled one of his life-long dreams by moving to Fairbanks, Alaska. He started a gold-mining operation and was thrilled about it.

Ross was preceded in death by his wife Laura, his father Joe Stow, mother Etta Stow, sister Nicki Latimer-Payne, nephew Bryan Mode and great-nephew Azrail Mode.

Ross is survived by his three children, Brad Stow, Jennifer Stow and her partner Danielle Crow, and Jerrod Stow and wife Susan; his step-daughter and her husband Genevieve and Keith Roundy; four grandchildren, Hannah Stow, Faith, Devon and Laura Roundy; two sisters Judy Wangerin  and Paula Holcomb; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

— Submitted by Family