John William Gross Jr
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People
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Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Emigsville, PA | 15 February 1922 | |
|
Other 95th Bomb Group Combat Tour |
Horham Airfield, UK | 26 October 1944 - 30 March 1945 | |
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Died |
Cumberland County, PA | 2 March 2017 | John W. Gross, Jr., 95, entered the kingdom of our Lord at home March 2nd surrounded by family. John was born in a farm house in Emigsville, Pa. to Alice (Golden) and John W. Gross Sr., later relocating to Wernersville Pa, where he attended High School. In 1942 while attending Muhlenberg College, he enlisted to join the fight in Europe. After completing officers training, he became a B-17 pilot and served in the 95th Bombardment Group. He successfully completed 35 missions before returning home to his pre-war sweetheart, Arlene M. Lamm. They wed in 1948. In 1950, after relocating to Harrisburg Pa., John and his father began distributing Maxwell House coffee from their Harrisburg apartment. Sixty-seven years later, John Gross & Co. of Mechanicsburg remains a locally owned, 4th generation family business, providing foodservice products to restaurants and institutions throughout the mid-state. John remained active in the business until the time of his death as a "29-year-old man with 66 years of experience". John's life was the business and his family was the business. Arlene proceeded him in death in 2014. They are survived by their two daughters and a son, Kaye and Dean Sensenig of Sinking Spring, Diane and Jim LaRocca of Mechanicsburg, and Brian and Edie Gross of Orrstown, 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. John was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church of Camp Hill, a member of the Zembo Shrine and West Shore Country Club where he had enjoyed his golf. Visitation is planned for Friday, March 10th from 5:00 - 8:00pm at Christ Community Church, 1201 Slate Hill Road, Camp Hill. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 11th at 11 o'clock at Grace Lutheran Church, 1610 Carlisle Road, Camp Hill. Burial will be private |
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Buried |
11 March 2017 | Rolling Green Memorial Park Camp Hill, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA Plot Block N, Plot 145 |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
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Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://95thbg.org/95th_db_pages/left_formation_code/gethonoroll.php