Kenneth Wilson Ross passed away at Salem Hospital on Jan. 27, at the age of 100. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on Sept. 4, 1925, to John and Bessie Ross. He was the youngest of five siblings: Letitia, Mabel, Betsy and Robert.
Kenneth served as a corporal in the U.S. Air Force 1944-1946, flying missions in Italy and Germany. Post WWII, Kenneth worked for Amtrak until 2008. His career included being the New York City crew base manager and supervisor. He was elected to the national office of the supervisory union and served as recording and corresponding secretary for over 30 years. He was a respected officer of the organization throughout the country.
Kenneth was involved in Amtrak’s Operation Red Block, a peer-to-peer drug and alcohol support program helping employees overcome addiction issues.
He was well known to his friends and colleagues as a kind and caring person who worked tirelessly to help others. Since 2011, Kenneth has been a resident of Marblehead, living first with his sister, Betsy Taylor, until her passing, and since 2019 independently.
Kenneth celebrated his 100th birthday in September with a party at the Marblehead Senior Center, and later with three generations of his family and local friends.
Kenneth was generous in his enthusiasm and will be remembered for the twinkle in his eye and the kindness in his heart. He leaves behind nieces and nephews — regular, grand and great-grand—from Los Angeles to Maine, as well as a century of extended family, friends, neighbors and colleagues across the country. Kenneth will be buried in Brooklyn, alongside much of his family.
