(February 22, 1932 – March 14, 2025)
Carolyn Ross left her home in Dublin, Texas, and went to her eternal home on March 14, 2025. She was born in Valley Wells, Texas, to Laura and Glen O’Brien. She grew up mainly in Agua Dulce, Texas. After regularly attending the Baptist church in town for several years, she understood that she had sinned, but that the Lord Jesus had taken the penalty for her sins. When she was twelve years old, one night she gave herself to Him to follow for the rest of her life.
In her first year of college at the nearby University of Corpus Christi, Carolyn met Gilbert Ross, a ministerial student with the nicest, clear-blue eyes. They married the following summer of 1950. Gilbert had graduated college, so they started off their married life in Ft. Worth, Texas, where they could pursue seminary studies. Three and a half years later, they graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity degree for Gilbert and an Associate of Religious Education degree for Carolyn.
Next came a couple of pastorates at small country churches in south Texas. Then, in 1957, while at Seaside Palacios Baptist Encampment, both Gilbert and Carolyn felt God was calling them to go to Mexico as missionaries. By March of 1958, they were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention as missionaries to Mexico. After a full year of Spanish language studies in Costa Rica, they arrived in the state of Durango, Mexico, around Christmastime in 1959, with two daughters in tow. Gilbert was to oversee Baptist mission work in several states, while Carolyn managed the home and worked with Baptist churches in the city of Durango. Four more daughters were born in the next 5 1/2 years, though one would die shortly after birth.
Carolyn tirelessly poured herself out fulfilling multiple jobs during their 47 years in Mexico, everything from leading people to Christ, to playing a pump organ, to teacher of you-name-the-group. At the same time, she made sure that her husband and children were never neglected. She was dearly loved, mainly because she loved everybody unconditionally.
During retirement in Dublin, Texas, Carolyn continued to make a real difference at Cottonwood Baptist Church. Among her activities were teaching the Spanish Sunday School class for many years, helping teach ESL classes, and being an ever-positive mentor to younger women throughout the church. All kinds of people cherished seeing her big smile and hearing her encouraging words.
In her later years, after Gilbert died in 2010, Carolyn decided to write her autobiography, which is titled simply Faithful, her heartfelt paean to God’s faithfulness.
Carolyn is survived by her five daughters: Debbie (husband Bradley Kuss), Marie (husband John Drugan), Kathy, Betsy (husband Jackie Robinett), and Martha (husband Billy Aranda); also, by twelve grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Visitation with Carolyn’s family is scheduled for Friday, March 21 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Cottonwood Baptist Church. Her Celebration of Life will then commence at 11:00 a.m., followed by interment.
To make a memorial gift, the family would suggest you give a donation to Kids Across Cultures via Cottonwood Church.
Be the first to comment