Ralph M. Ross, 78, Louisburg, a former Paola and Osawatomie resident and retired businessman, died Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at Louisburg Care Center.

He was born July 16, 1925, in Paola. He was the older of the two children of Jess L. and Olive Lillian Brown Ross. The family lived in Osawatomie and moved to a farm north of town when he was 4years old. He attended Stockwell Country School, Paola High School for three years and Osawatomie High School for his senior year, graduating with the Class of 1943.

He was married June 28, 1947, to Helen G. DeHart in Paola. They lived in rural Paola and became the parents of two children. They were divorced in 1975.

He married V. Dorene Quaintance Brady on July 25, 2992, in Harrison, Ark. They lived in Louisburg. She died Dec. 6, 2000.

Mr. Ross owned and operated the Ralph Ross Construction Co. for 40 years. The company did a lot of subcontracting work for the Missouri Pacific and Union Pacific railroads.

In the early 1960s, he invented a machine that would make wood chips a uniform size. He owned and operated a company that made and sold hickory chips. After a long, successful career, he sold his business and retired in 1991.

He was a member of Plum Creek United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his son, Jim R. Ross, and his daughter, Linda Stevens, both of Paola; a stepson, Stan Brady of Clearwater, Kan.; a stepdaughter, Renea Hammett of Stanley; his brother, Clayton Ross of Columbus, Ohio; four grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and one stepgreat-grandson.

Viewing was after 1 p.m. today (Monday) at Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie, where a visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, and burial will be in Osawatomie Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.

Published in the Miami Co. Republic, Oct. 27, 2003