A life-time Maryville resident, missions worker and former furniture store owner died Thursday, Aug. 28 after a lengthy battle with prostrate cancer.

Dale McCollum Ross was born in Maryville in 1933, graduated from Maryville High School in 1951, and from the University of Tennessee in 1956, after a two-year stint in the Navy. While a student at UT, he met his wife, Pat Ross. The couple were married 50 years and have seven children.

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Former Maryville furniture store owner, Ross, dies

From Staff Reports
Originally published: August 30. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: August 29. 2008 11:51PM

Dale McCollum Ross, a former Maryville furniture store owner and missions worker, died Thursday after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer.

Ross owned Dale's Home Center for more than 30 years, but he spent a large part of his life helping others. He worked on 17 different Habitat for Humanity houses, served with the Appalachian Service Project (a United Methodist Church mission program) and did mission work in the Dominican Republic, Lithuania and Brazil, among other places. He also volunteered on many road races in the county.

"He said he is paying back for what he was given," said his wife, Pat Ross. "He loved it and he wanted to make a difference."

Ross was born in Maryville in 1933, graduated from Maryville High School in 1951 and from the University of Tennessee in 1956, after a two-year stint in the Navy. While a student at UT, he met his wife. The couple were married 50 years and have seven children.

A member of the Foothills Striders, Ross love to hike. "He hiked every trail in the Smoky Mountains at least once," Pat Ross said. "He also maintained Husky Gap Trail for years."

He also did a daily radio show, "Dale's Doings," a number of years ago, where he'd provide inspirational talks and give the "Thoughts for the Day."

The Rosses also enjoyed disassembling old cabins people wanted torn down and rebuilt several of them in the mountains and three in their Maryville back yard. "It was a hobby for us," Pat Ross said. "We had such a good time. We enjoyed each other's company."

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church in Maryville, where he was a life-long member. Receiving of friends will follow. Interment will be held at Grandview Cemetery in Maryville on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home is in charge.