Benjamin Lee Ross was born on August 2. 1929 in St. Louis, MO. He was the youngest of 11 children born to James and Minnie Ross, all of whom preceded him in death. Bennie, as he liked to be called, was educated in the St. Louis Public School System and baptized in the Catholic faith.
In December 1949, he was united in marriage to the late Louise Charlotte Watt. To this union, two children were born, Wayne Ricardo Ross, Sr. and Cynthia Denise Ross.
In 1950, he began his service in the US Army. He was wounded in the Korean War and received an honorable discharge and the prestigious Purple Heart for serving his country.
Bennie always had an entrepreneurial spirit which started after graduation from the Moler Barber College. He opened his own barber shop, and several years later he owned and operated several Ross service stations. He also worked for SLPS and the US Postal Service before he retired. He was an excellent craftsman, enjoyed music and dancing and had a loving, warm personality.
Benjamin departed this life on Friday, March 19, 2010 leaving to cherish his memory two devoted children. He was a caring grandfather to Tonya, Wayne Jr. (Kimberly), Jessica, Sara (deceased) and Christina (Tyrone); great-grandfather to Sandra (Cortez), Taylor, Willie, Cameron and Victoria. He will be fondly missed and leaves behind a host of other relatives and friends.